What are the 4 Paths of Yoga?

Here in the western world, we usually think of yoga within the context of fitness. We think of a room full of yoga mats, yoga blocks, water bottles, and bodies sporting LuluLemon outfits and defined 6-packs. In reality, this kind of yoga is merely the first stepping stone in a larger spiritual journey. In our culture we define yoga as a fitness practice, but the original definition of yoga is far more accurately defined as a philosophy or way of life; it is “the path to enlightenment.”

What are the 4 Paths of Yoga?

Yoga Originated thousands of years ago in ancient India as a spiritual practice. The three types of yoga, Karma, Jnana and Bhakti, are mentioned in the Hindu scripture, The Bhagavad Gita, as the paths of spiritual liberation.

• Karma Yoga, the “Path of Action”
• Jnana Yoga, the “Path of Knowledge”
• Bhakti Yoga, the “Path of Devotion”

Raja Yoga is almost always mentioned when discussing the three types. Raja Yoga is known as the “Path of Meditation,” and completes what is called “The Four Paths to Realization.” Raja Yoga encompasses Hatha Yoga, which is what we have come to know as yoga here in the western world.

These forms of yoga are not mutually exclusive, they are simply different routes one can take to actualize their full potential in this life. Typically, there is a path that is best suited for our individual set of strengths, but striving for a good mix would certainly help us to reach the ultimate goal of self realization.

Karma Yoga (Karma-Mārga)“Path of Action”

Karma yoga is known as the path of action, but more specifically, it is the path of selfless action. Karma yoga is the yoga of service.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Karma yoga is said to be “selfless action performed for the benefit of others.” The philosophy of this practice is to try our best while remaining unattached to the personal outcomes of our work. It asks us to work against our instincts of self preservation and instead strive to give freely of our time and labor.

This kind of living benefits our communities in a very observable way, but we also reap many personal benefits that are unseen. The Hindu scriptures state that this form of yoga purifies the mind. While it seems counter intuitive, giving freely to others gives us a sense of abundance. When our actions are consistently coming from a place of selflessness, we actually develop a deeper capacity for joy as the source of it grows bigger than the radius of our immediate lives.

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Jnana Yoga (Jnāña-Mārga)“Path of Knowledge”

Jnana yoga is known as the path of knowledge, or the path of wisdom. The direct translation of Jnana is knowledge, but more specifically, it refers to lasting truths. Jnana is a very cerebral form of yoga that is well suited for intellectual types, as it aims to obtain knowledge by asking big, existential questions.

Jana yoga is essentially an intensive self-study. Many practices involve asking questions such as “who am I” or “what am I” until the questions have distilled us down to our true essence. These big questions reveal that not our bodies, our thoughts, nor our egos are who we are. The main benefit of practicing this kind of yoga is simply to get to know ourselves on the most fundamental level; to find our most authentic selves.

Bhakti Yoga (Bhakti-Mārga)“Path of Devotion”

Bhakti Yoga is the path of love. This refers not to a romantic love, but specifically a devotion to a chosen personal deity. In the traditional sense, this involved choosing a Hindu God, like Krishna or Ganesha, to worship and adorn through prayer. More recently it has been adapted to an increasingly secular population in the west, and is often practiced as more of a personal relationship with a more generalized higher power.

This yoga is essentially a prayer driven practice. Even if you don’t consider yourself to be particularly religious, you can still benefit from the mantras of a Bhakti practice. Whether we believe in God, the universe, source energy, or some other equivalent, praising this entity allows us the opportunity to practice a version of love that reaches exponentially farther than our immediate circles.

Bhakti yoga is the practice of giving love out to the universe and in towards the self with no separation of the two. As we praise, worship, give thanks, it slowly rewires our brain to see the good in the world. This development of trust in something greater than ourselves helps us to relax and let go of our illusion of control. It makes space for joy in our hearts.

Raja Yoga (Dhyāna-Mārga)“Path of Meditation”

Raja Yoga is the path of meditation. The direct translation of Raja is “Royal,” indicating this is the highest level of yoga. It is often tagged on to lists with Karma, Jnana and Bhakti yoga as the kind of “master yoga” that encompasses all of the paths’ teachings.

Raja yoga is essentially meditation. In Sanskrit texts, it is said to be both the goal of yoga and the means to achieve it. What this is saying is that we exercise control over our bodies and minds while actively meditating, but the meditation also yields that same control over our bodies and minds and gives us lasting peace in our day to day lives.

The benefits of meditation are seemingly endless; better sleep, more creativity, lower stress, healthier immune systems, stress management, and so much more. Raja yoga is perhaps the most challenging form of yoga, but it is also the most rewarding.

Often mentioned with Raja Yoga is Hatha Yoga. This is the active form of yoga that most Americans and Western Europeans are familiar with. Hatha yoga is where we get all of our postures for Vinyasa, Yin, and other modern yoga practices. Simply put, this is the yoga of the body. The Philosophy behind Hatha yoga is to develop the bodily strength to sit completely still in meditation for long periods of time. Hatha yoga is merely a stepping stone to equip ourselves with some of the skills necessary for Raja Yoga.

Which Path is Right for Me?

It is important to understand that these paths are not mutually exclusive; they are simply areas of concentration. While for example, you might be extroverted and therefore perhaps better suited for the community service demands of Karma, you could enrich your experiences on that path by developing a deeper sense of gratitude through a Bhatki practice. Each path informs the other, and the physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits are truly exponential when combined.

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