Yoga is a system of techniques developed in ancient India designed to lead the dedicated practitioner to full enlightenment as to the nature of reality and the Supreme.
WHY DO YOGA?
The practice of Yoga allows the practitioner to reach his or her highest potential and reveals the greatest mysteries of the universe. It also has more worldly applications that promote healing, improvement in the quality of life, and the realization of paranormal phenomena.
WHY ARE THERE SO MANY TYPES OF YOGA?
The many types of Yoga suit the many different types of practitioners. Hatha Yoga (sun-moon Yoga) involves the physical body and leads to the balance of the solar and lunar energies. Most popular forms of Yoga, e.g., Iyengar, Sivananda, Ashtanga (not to be confused with Patanjali's traditional eight-fold Ashtanga Yoga), Vinya, Kundalini (not to be confused with traditional Kundalini Yoga), etc., are styles of Hatha Yoga. There are four classical types of Yoga: Jnana Yoga (the Yoga of direct knowledge), Bhakti Yoga (the Yoga of devotion), Karma Yoga (the Yoga of action), and Raja Yoga (the royal Yoga which includes Hatha, Tantra, Laya, Kundalini, and other forms of Yoga). The Agama courses give teachings on all these forms with an emphasis on Raja Yoga and its various sub-forms. See Courses for more information.
WHAT IS TANTRA?
The word Tantra is often translated as "warp," as in the base of threads on a loom. This symbolizes the idea that all aspects of the universe are connected like a web. Tantra is the Yoga that uses the diverse elements of manifestation-such as the body (Hatha Yoga), colours, sounds (mantra), shapes (yantra), dreams, and sexuality-to elevate the consciousness and reach spiritual realization. The word Tantra also refers specifically to the Yoga of sexuality, but technically this is too narrow a use of the term.
WHAT IS KUNDALINI SHAKTI?
Kundalini shakti (coiled energy) is the strongest potential force in the human being whose arousal is essential to any spiritual evolution. In the average person, it lies dormant at the base of the spine. Kundalini Yoga is the Yoga of directly awakening Kundalini shakti and directing it up the spine to the crown center (sahasrara, above the top of the head).
IS YOGA DANGEROUS?
Some advanced techniques of Yoga can be dangerous if practiced without proper preparation and the guidance of a qualified teacher. Fortunately, such techniques are generally inaccessible to unprepared students. For this reason, it is very important to respect the process of initiation and transmission of yogic teachings.
WHY STUDY WITH AGAMA?
Agama returns to the primary sources of Yoga, restoring the original meaning to the Yoga system: the complete development of the being for the aim of attaining spiritual liberation. Through systematic teachings based on curricula that become more and more advanced, progress is assured to all sincere practitioners. See also About Agama.
