{"id":3398,"date":"2025-02-19T17:46:25","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T12:16:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vinyasayogaashram.com\/blog\/?p=3398"},"modified":"2025-02-19T17:53:41","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T12:23:41","slug":"an-experts-guide-to-yoga-philosophy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vinyasayogaashram.com\/blog\/an-experts-guide-to-yoga-philosophy\/","title":{"rendered":"An Expert\u2019s Guide to Yoga Philosophy"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Yoga philosophy is one of the major schools of thought that explores the fundamental qualities of our reality and existence. The word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word yuj, <\/em>meaning union. Yoga is understood as a union on many levels\u2014the union of mind, body, and spirit; the union of various energies within us; the union of the self with the source. Philosophy is made of two words: Philo <\/em>means love, and Sophia <\/em>means wisdom\u2014<\/em>love for wisdom.<\/p>

Yoga philosophy is traditionally known as yoga darshan. Darshan means \u2018to see\/ to perceive\u2019. Yoga philosophy is a means of experiencing and perceiving union.<\/p>

Yoga philosophy mainly explains the different types of yoga used to attain this union. Some sacred texts of Yoga Philosophy include Patanjali\u2019s Yoga Sutras, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Shiva Samhita, Gherand Samhita, Samkhya Darshan, Shrimad Bhagwat Gita.<\/p>

This article explores the different kinds of yoga.<\/p>

Paths of Yoga<\/strong><\/p>

Various yoga schools have individual ideologies. However, the ultimate goal of all these schools is to experience union, whether at an individual or cosmic level.<\/p>

Ashtanga Yoga: <\/strong>Perhaps the most popular form of yoga is Patanjali\u2019s Ashtanga Yoga, also known as the eight limbs. These eight steps, designed by sage Patanjali to experience liberation from the cycle of rebirth, are Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi.<\/p>