Divisions of Yoga– the Yoga Upanishads Explains

Yoga has eight divisions - Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana of Hari in the middle of the eyebrows, and Samadhi (the equipoised condition).

​Hatha yoga constitutes the twelve subdivisions - Mahamudra, Mahabandha (Jalandhara, Uddiyana and Mulbandha), Mahavedha, Khechari, Dirghapranava-samadhana, Siddhantashravana, three aspects (Vajiroli, Amaroli and Sahajoli).
​

1. Of Yama, light food is most important;
2. of Niyama, non-violence is most important;
3. of Asana, four are most important – Siddha, Padma, Simha and Bhadra.
4. While practising Pranayama, Rechaka, Kumbhaka & Puraka are done in the ratio of 16:64:32 respectively. Gradually, yogi should practice eight Kumbhaka it four times every day – dawn, noon, dusk & mid-night. By practising this for three months, the purification of the Nadis will result. Lightness of the body, lustre, the rousing of the Jatharagni (increase of digestive power and slimness of the body, these will result then.
5. The withdrawal of the organs of perception and action from the objects of pleasure is Pratyahara of the plain variety; but for the yogi, the withdrawal through the performance of Kumbhaka is Pratyahara.
6. Dhyana – Yogi should practice meditation for 24 hours, restraining the vital air in Ether, on the deity which would grant his desires. This is known as Saguna Dhyana or meditation of the qualified kind which has the power of bestowing Yogic Powers, such as Anima or attenuation and the like.
7. Samadhi – thereafter Samadhi will be attained by the yogi who resorts to meditation of the unqualified kind. In the course of 12 days will he surely attain Samadhi.

Yogi should sit in secluded place and utter Pranava as Japa. The Pranava-mantra removes all obstacles and destroys all defects.

Then, the stage of Ghata comes, wherein the Yogi brings about the union of Prana, Apana, Manas and Buddhi and of the Jivatman and Parmataman, without detriment to the mutual relationships.   

Clairaudience, clairvoyance, transportation across vast distances in a short time, yogic vocal powers, yogic power of transforming one’s self into any form desired, yogic method of making oneself invisible and the power of transmuting iron and other baser metals into gold by smearing with the Yogi’s urine and excreta these will be acquired by the yogi. By intermittent practice for a sufficient time, in him will be generated the power of moving through Akasa or ethereal space. The yogi should not demonstrate his sagacity to anyone. Out of the incessant practice of Yoga, will the Ghata stage be attained.
The vital air, intimately associated with the Agni of the Svadhisthana by means of the Yogi’s effort, assuming the power of the Kundalini, will than enter, along with the fire, the Susumna Nadi without any obstruction. Along with the vital air, the Chitta (mind) will also enter the Great Path through the Susumna door. When the Chitta of the yogi enters the Susumna along with the vital air, at this stage is attained what is known as the Paricayavastha.

Six Angas –
Wherein one can transport his mind to the supreme Atman comfortably for long time without discomfort –

1. Right posture
2. Puraka (Inspiration), Kumbhaka (Stabilization of breath) and Rechaka (Expiration), of 16:64:32 matras lengths in duration respectively, is Pranayama.
3. Withholding of the mind from the objects wherein the senses indulge in functioning, is Pratyahara.
4. Firmly implementing the Chitta (mind) by inhibiting it from the objects of desire encompassing it, finally in the supreme Consciousness is Dharana.
5. Contemplating on the Supreme Consciousness abiding in all, (even as the Akasa concentrated in the pots and pans, which becomes one with the expense of Ether, when the pots and pans are broken) is Dhyana.
6. The state of absorption brought on by one’s being lost in Dhyana is Nirvikalpa Samadhi.

Different Yoga -

1. Mantra – Yoga – “Hamsa Hamsa” is uttered by all the Jivas involuntarily. In the case of Yogis, on account of the precept of the Guru and during Susumna Yoga the Japa will become reversed. That which becomes viz. So Ham, So Ham, is known as the Mantra-yoga.
2. Laya – Yoga - The mind gets dissolved and the vital air attains firmness, when Laya yoga takes its rise.
3. Raja Yoga - Rajas (female vital fluid) resembling the Japa and Bandhuka flowers in colour, well protected and representing the Devi principle. By conjunction of the Rajas with Retas (male vital fluid i.e., Shiva and Shakti) there is what is known as Raja Yoga.

Benefits to Yogi

1. Diseases perish even at the commencement of the practice, the dullness born of the body perishes next, then becoming equipoised (by conjunction with Prana, Agni, Surya, Shakti and Shiva) the moon showers nectar incessantly.
2. When individuality is destroyed by the fire of Yoga where will be scope for inflexibility in the body? The body will become either soft or ethereal in consequence.

Obstacles to the practice of Yoga and remedies –

1. During the practice of yoga, the most important obstacles are – laziness, bragging, bad company, practising necromancy, dabbling with minerals, and longing for women & others, which are of character of a mirage.
2. The practitioner should abstain from food which would prove harmful to Yoga such as salt, mustard, acid, hot, astringent and pungent dishes, all vegetables, asafoetida and the like, proximity to fire, sexual intercourse and travel. He should desist from early morning baths, fasting and all kinds of bodily exertion. At first, during practice, a diet rich in milk and ghee is appropriate.
3. Sleeping during day-time;
4. constant obstruction to the passing of urine and faeces;
5. irregular postures spring out of the practitioner’s anxious thought;
6. when the practitioner with due restraint holds his breath & disease is generated soon etc., these are the first obstacle.
7. Doubt as to its efficacy.
8. Another obstacle is the state of confusion.
9. Sloth.
10. The form of sleep.
11. Cessation.
12. Delusion.
13. Concern with worldly affairs.
14. Non aptitude for the understanding of the truth of Yoga.