The branches of Yoga are akin to different learning styles that aid us on our walk with faith and with Jesus on and off our yoga mats perhaps a bit like the gifts of the spirit that we discussed last week.    Most likely we will find ourselves walking down all these paths on our yoga journey and in our walk with faith, but most will find that one of these paths will whisper to them of peace and spiritual wholeness a bit louder. 

The Bible references branches as a connection to Jesus many times.  One of the most well-known verses comes from John and is Jesus speaking:  I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:5.  This verse references a direct relationship with Jesus, when we find the branch or pathway to walk with Jesus that really calls to us, this relationship deepens and we ‘bear much fruit” or find our own unique way to do God’s work here on Earth.

Other verses speak to the nourishing quality of ‘being a branch” or on a spiritual path. My roots will reach to the water, and the dew will lie all night on my branches. – Job 29:19. So beautiful, Jesus often has been linked with water or the idea of living water, because we seek relationship with him, we are continually nourished, ‘the dew will lie on my branches’.  This gives me the image of being nourished by his love and presence even when we rest at night. 

Here is one more reference to root and branch:  If the part of the dough offered as first harvest is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches. – Romans 11:16. Because we are connected or grafted to God in faith, we are truly holy.  Interestingly, the meaning of holy is to be unique, distinct, set aside or separate from the world.  God sets believers apart to live lives that please and glorify him.  However, he does not make us all the same!  He makes us all unique in the pathway or branch that we swing on so to speak to best serve him.  So, let’s talk about those fruit filled branches or pathways to God and see if you see yourself feeling more at home on one or more of these branches.

Bhakti- The Yoga of Devotion

Bhakti means devotion or surrender to God.  Bhakti yoga is all about the heart and devotion and love for God, his son, his people, and creation. For example, Jesus taught that everyone should love God with their whole heart and mind. As stated in Matthew:  Master, which is the greatest commandment in the law? He answered, Love the Lord thy God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind. That is the greatest commandment. It comes first. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. Everything in the Law and the prophets hangs on these two commandments.” Matthew 22.36-40.  These two rules are the heart and the processes of bhakti and karma yoga, (which we will discuss next.)

Bhakti yogi types tend to wear their hearts on their sleeves, they have no problem expressing their emotions and sharing themselves and their love with the world.  On the yoga mat, bhaktis devote their emotional energy towards God.   Off the mat, love for God is an ever-present current that guides all their other actions.  Whether then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.  – 1 Corinthians 10:31

 Desire for connection is also a part of bhakti yoga.  Bhakti’s love group yoga classes as well as time to worship at church.   Bhakti yogis feel this connection to God like a cloak of unconditional love; they feel immersed in life by this connection, this integral thread.  Other practices that may appeal to those that swing more towards the bhakti branch include chanting or singing, heart opening yoga practices, loving kindness meditation, prayer and single-minded focus on God, Jesus, Mary, or another saint that they feel connected to.

Karma Yoga- Yoga of Selfless Service

Typically, when we hear the word karma we think of the phrase’ “what comes around, goes around” and the bible does speak to this as seen here in this verse from Galatians.  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. –  Galatians 6:9-10.  Even here we sense a deeper meaning more akin to the yogic definition of karma yoga which literally means finding union (God) through service.   The karma yoga path views all actions as opportunities to bring in selfless service free from ego and attachment to outcome.  This is important because if we do and give expecting reward or praise it ceases to be selfless service.

Karma Yoga reminds us that all our time is ours, and we have a choice as to how we use that time and view our ‘work’.   Any work can be seen as selfless service, to be the hands and feet of God, and to show up as our authentic selves and put our yoga in action!   Karma yoga really moves us off the mat, asking us to bring mindful attention to all we do.  Some yogis whose karmic path is wider may be drawn to roles of leadership, teaching yoga, volunteering or charity; think Gandhi and Mother Theresa. However, grand gestures are not required to cultivate this path.

These types of yogis literally get lit up while doing God’s work, probably more so than when they are reading their bible ore sitting in a church service. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:16.

Jnana Yoga- The Yoga of Highest Knowledge

Jnana means spiritual knowledge or wisdom.  Those that tend to alight a bit more on this branch are lit up by reading the Gospel and perhaps sharing it with others or weaving bible passages into their yoga classes.  Consider how often Jesus referenced the word of God when he was teaching, when he was in trouble, temped or suffering he often quoted from the Bible.  Jesus said, It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on the every word that come from the mouth of God. –  Mathew 4:4.

This style of yoga takes dedication and discipline and may take the form of Bible study, or the study of other sacred texts, introspection or time spent in discussion with like-minded peers. One drawback that can befall the jnana yoga type is that they may become too enamored with their own righteous ideas; jnana at its best works to see through dogma and myopic thinking and remains open minded, curious, and lighthearted.   Ultimately ‘right thinking’ leads to ‘right action’ which is manifested in karma yoga.  I love this verse that links jnana and karma yoga: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. – 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

Raja Yoga-Yoga of Deep Meditation

In Raja yoga we aim to sit in meditation to become more acquainted with our true self which aligns more with our own divinity.  Unobstructed by our worldly self which is associated with our roles, experiences, likes and dislikes, we begin to step back and see ourselves in a purer light, a truly comforting feeling of being a child of God.  Often in meditation I feel the benevolent presence of Jesus, simply being with me.  Time alone, in nature, traditional yoga, meditation or pray time helps us remember who we are to Him and that we do not have to perform, he simply wants us to draw near to Him.  

 Ultimately, we meet our true self, or ourselves as daughters and sons of God, during quite time and then we take this awareness and insight with us into our world.  God and Jesus remind us many times about the need for quite time, here is just one example; For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved:  in quietness and in trust be your strength” – Isaiah 30:10.

Tantric Yoga- Yoga of Purification through Care of the Body

Tantric yoga is often associated with sex, but this is just one small twig on this branch!   In the other path’s emotions, knowledge, action and will bring us closer to God, in tantra the tools are the body and breath as vehicles for worship and connection to God within ourselves and in all of creation.  Tantra types often have a hard time sitting still for pray time or bible study and feel closest to God in nature or while moving their bodies, walking, or practicing yoga.  I feel yoga is such a wonderful way to connect with Jesus because we move our bodies, then settle and just rest in his presence.  Movement is a joyful way to connect with God …come, let us walk in the light of the Lord. –Isaiah 2:5

 This path of yoga asks us to take good care of our bodies because they are the home of our spirit.  I have always loved the image of the body as a temple, expressed in this beautiful verse from 1 Corinthians; Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.  Through our bodies and breathe we manage our energy appropriately so it can be used for the greater good (karma yoga). 

Final thoughts and reflection

We see how the paths of yoga intertwine, connect, and support each other just like the many pathways to walk with Jesus or various gifts of the Spirit. We also see that yoga and our life as Christians is not just about how we move our bodies or simply going to church every week.  Jesus desires to have a relationship with us.  It is in this relationship that we are truly nourished and sustained.   What sustains and nourishes me may not be the same as you.  This is the point of yoga- to be used as a tool to increase our self-awareness, well being and feelings of worthiness so that we can confidently and with enthusiasm step into this world with provision and grace as children of God.  These closing verses seems to bring a form of unity to the branches, back to the root, Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.- Psalm 119:105.  May you always feel this sense of guidance from within as you walk with Jesus in faith. Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. –  Colossians 2:6-7