Episode
Think there are 4 paths in yoga? There are at least 16.
- Podcast
- That's So Hindu
- Published
- Mar 26, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2662
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Summary
In this episode of That’s So Hindu, Dr. Vijay Satnarine from Hindu American Foundation dives into the expansive world of yoga, revealing that there are actually 16 (possibly more) paths and practices that go far beyond the commonly known four. This discussion challenges simplified views of yoga and emphasizes its diverse and inclusive nature, grounded in spiritual traditions and practical applications. The 16 types of yoga 1. The Disciplines of the Mind & Intellect These techniques focus on refining the "instrument" of perception. Abhyāsa-yoga (Yoga of Practice): The technique of repeatedly bringing the wandering mind back to a single point of focus. Buddhi-yoga (Yoga of Discernment): Using the higher intellect to filter out sensory "noise" and make choices based on the fundamental reality of a situation. Sāṅkhya-yoga (Yoga of Analysis): The intellectual discipline of "counting" or "categorizing" the difference between the eternal observer and the transient world. Jñāna-Vijñāna-yoga (Yoga of Knowledge & Realization): The progression from theoretical understanding to direct, verifiable experience of reality. 2. The Disciplines of Action & Engagement These techniques focus on how we interface with the world without creating further cycles of suffering. Karma-yoga (Yoga of Action): Performing one's duty without attachment to personal gain. Karma-phala-tyāga (Renunciation of Results): The psychological technique of surrendering the "fruit" of action to manage anxiety and ego. Sannyāsa-yoga (Yoga of Renunciation): Not the abandonment of action, but the renunciation of the sense of doership (the ego’s claim on the action). Yajña-yoga (Yoga of Sacrifice): Viewing every action—from eating to breathing to working—as an offering to the greater whole, rather tha…