Yoga Different types of Yoga

Yoga as practiced at the Athenaeum Spa in Malta is a mental and physical health system practiced for thousands of years, first in India, its place of origin and now increasingly throughout the world. Yoga means connecting the body with the mind through the breath. Its purpose is to help each one of us achieve our highest potential and to experience enduring health and happiness. With Yoga, we can extend our healthy, productive years far beyond the accepted norm and, at the same time, improve the quality of our lives. This is the holistic approach encouraged by the Athenaeum Spa in Malta.

The practice of yoga is growing in popularity. There are classes for beginners as well as those with experience, for those with injuries or those looking for gentle stretching and relaxation and for those seeking vigorous activity. All three levels of Yoga are available at the Athenaeum Spa in Malta. Yoga is adaptable to the individual so there is something for everyone. Contrary to what you might think, you do not have to be flexible to 'do' yoga. All you need is an open mind. There are six branches of yoga, to suit different personalities:

Raja Yoga
Raja Yoga ("royal yoga", "royal union", also known as Classical Yoga) is the branch of yoga primarily concerned with meditation. It is best for introspective and contemplative individuals.

Karma Yoga
Karma Yoga is the yoga of selfless service. Yogis believe in reincarnation. They believe that what kind of life one is reincarnated into (including whether one becomes another human or an animal), is dependent on the spiritual results of the actions in one's past life, called Karma.

Bhakti Yoga
Bhakti Yoga is the path of devotion and is the best method for those with emotional personalities. Bhakti yogis try to be aware that the divine is in everything around us and so all actions and thoughts must be infused with spiritual underpinnings.

Jnana Yoga
Jnana Yoga is the yoga of study and is more suitable for those who are intellectual. It aims to achieve liberation for its practitioners through the study of the yogic scriptures. It has been described as the most direct, yet at the same time the most difficult, of the branches of yoga

Tantra Yoga
Tantra (sometimes "tantric") yoga in particular often includes a context of sexual symbolism, if not actual sexual activities, which are described as constituting this aid. It is meant for those who are drawn to ritual and includes consecrated sexuality.

Hatha Yoga
Hatha Yoga is the yoga of movement. It is the one most popularly attributed to yoga. Hatha Yoga classes are available at the Athenaeum Spa in Malta. It involves the use of various physical postures, all the while controlling and being conscious of the breath. It
believes that in these postures and breath exercises, the entire being - mind, body and soul - is purified. It is especially good for those of a very physical nature and temperament.