About Integral Yoga

Swami Satchidananda explains: “The complete definition of Yoga is serenity of mind. That's all, in a few simple words. Equanimity of mind is Yoga – Samatvam Yoga ucchyate, says the Bhagavad Gita. That means equanimity is called Yoga. And there is also another scripture which talks more about Yoga: the Yoga Sutra. It begins with this definition: Yoga chitta vritti nirodhah. That means to control the modifications, the restlessness, of the mind and to keep it serene. That is Yoga.”

The Six Branches of Integral Yoga

Integral Yoga emphasizes engaging every aspect of ourselves in the pursuit of peace, and the importance of finding the combination of practices that suits our individual nature. Swami Satchidananda has always offered a practical and open-minded approach to Yoga. He says, “There is no ‘only way’ as such. There are many ways to reach the same goal. Whatever you call it, it is called Yoga. That is why there are many, many Yogas: Karma Yoga, Raja Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Hatha Yoga, and Japa Yoga. As long as your aim is to achieve Yoga, unity, it doesn’t matter which you choose. That is why it is called Integral Yoga. Truth is one; paths are many. So, choose your own way.”

Raja Yoga

Raja Yoga is the underlying Yoga philosophy as taught in the Yoga scriptures. Raja Yoga focuses on gaining mastery of the mind through ethical perfection and regular practice of concentration and meditation. Raja Yoga forms the foundation for all the other branches of Integral Yoga. As complex human beings, Integral Yoga offers practices for every aspect of our being – heart, hand, and head.

Hatha Yoga

To keep the body healthy and strong, and to prepare for meditation, we practice Hatha Yoga. This consists of asanas (postures), pranayama (breath control), yoga nidra (guided deep relaxation), mudras (energy seals), bandhas (energy locks), kriya (cleansing practices), and diet.

Bhakti Yoga

To turn emotions into devotion we have the practices of Bhakti Yoga; kirtan (chanting), puja (worship services), prayers and prostrations. By constant love, thought, and service of the Divine (either as God, a divine incarnation, or a spiritual teacher) we can transcend our limited personality and connect with our true self through the image of our beloved.

Karma Yoga

Selfless service is Karma Yoga, the path of action. We perform our duty without attachment to the results of the action. In Karma Yoga we are dedicating the results of our actions to the divine or to the service of humanity.

Jnana Yoga

Jnana Yoga is the practice of reflection and self-inquiry -- developing the witnessing mind. It offers an intellectual approach where we access our inner wisdom. Through the knowledge of what really exists, what is not changeable, Jnana Yoga allows us to realize our essential oneness with the entire universe.

Japa Yoga

Sri Swami Satchidananda also emphasizes the importance of mantra repetition, Japa Yoga, by making it a branch of Integral Yoga. He explains that mantra repetition is a particularly helpful practice in the busy age that we live in. This is because mantra repetition is a little easier than other forms of meditation when there are so many distractions. Concentrated mental repetition of the mantra produces vibrations within our entire system which are in tune with the divine vibration, connecting us with our true nature.

What is Integral Yoga?

“Integral Yoga is a flexible combination of specific methods designed to develop every aspect of the individual: physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. It is a scientific system which integrates the various branches of yoga in order to bring about a complete and harmonious development of the individual." - Sri Swami Satchidananda