The various styles (or schools) of Yoga are different precisely because they have other objectives besides the basic one which is union with the absolute, common to anything that is considered "Yoga." As such, we have at one extreme the "gymnastics" schools, which are just a mixing of contortionism and stretching, with a bit of respiratory and relaxation exercises. In these styles - which call themselves "yoga" but are not truly yoga - importance is given to physical achievements, completely tossing aside the psychological-energetic ingredients.
On the other hand, at the other extreme are the "mystical" Yoga schools, which we're also not quite sure should truly be called Yoga schools, since they are belief systems that lack any type of physical practices more than a vegetarian diet and a few other restrictions, perhaps with mantras, chants, and studies. In these schools, the physical achievements of Yoga are completely unnecessary, and the only thing that matters are "spiritual" achievements. These currents usually feed into closed sects.
Between these two extremes there exists a large variety of Yoga styles, with more or less importance given to the physical aspects (Hatha Yoga), and the truly spiritual (Raja Yoga, with its truest expressions being the original Buddhism and the teachings of Krishnamurti). We have, for example, excellence in the physical practices of Yoga, which are styles derived from Krishnamacharya, specially the Desikachar style. That style was practiced - and recommended - by Krishnamurti, after a bad experience with another Krishnamacharya disciple, B.K.S. Iyengar.
Krishnamacharya learned this type of Yoga from a hermetic master in the Himalayas, Ramamohana, who sent him out to diffuse it in the world at the beginning of the 20th century. This style of Yoga and its right derivatives are, according to our point of view, the best ones, and we also highly recommend their practice.
Cosmic Yoga is based on the exercises of this style of Hatha Yoga, having extracted other elements, especially those of Tai Chi. It has also integrated our current knowledge of Galactic Astrology.
Cosmic Yoga places all its emphasis on the creation of an intense subtle energy state in the smallest amount of time, adapting itself to different comogenic tendencies. In other words, its a system that is most convenient for westerners, who are always short on time, and in general have very little experience with subtle energies. In Cosmic Yoga, that which is energetic takes precedence over that which is physical.
We will always recommend the styles derived from Krishnamacharya, Desikachar, A.G. Mohan, Ramaswami, Poornananda and his disciple, Gautama.
We don't recommend the Ashtanga, Iyengar styles by having an excessively athletic, even violent, spirit.
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