Raja Yoga is codified from esoteric practices that are thousands of years old. It has developed several branches to accommodate different personality styles. The major yogas are Bhakti (a devotional approach that opens the heart, it is best for those who are primarily emotionally-oriented), Jnana (an intellectual approach that leads to wisdom, it is best for those who are primarily mentally-oriented), Karma (an active, service-oriented approach, it is best for those who are more extroverted and who find meaning mostly through relationship), 

For those who are capable, Raja Yoga employs the most powerful and direct techniques for spiritual advancement, it provides a clear outline of the stages of progress along the path. These teachings were first systematised in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The eight traditional stages are:

Yama (social ethics of non-violence, truth)

Niyama (personal ethics of purity)

Asana (discipline of the body through posture to provide a sound base for taming the mind)

Pranayama (discipline of the breath to refine the base developed through asana)

Pratyahara (beginning mental concentration, this level brings mental control over the sense gates, so that one can withdraw from sense experience. This is useful because it allows one to further purify the mind and heart without the normal distractions of the mind and senses.

Dharana (intermediate mental concentration, holding to a single object for 2-4 minutes)

Dhyana (advanced mental concentration, holding to a single object for 30-40 minutes)

Samadhi (very advanced mental concentration, holding to a single object for 6 hours or more). The most advanced practitioners can remain in samadhi indefinitely.

The final practice of this meditational path is to connect the samadhi state with ordinary day-to-day consciousness so that a practitioner is in samadhi regardless of whether he or she is meditating in total isolation or performing daily chores in the normal bustle of people, places, and events. In this way, the accomplished meditator has quite literally passed beyond life's sufferings but yet remains in the world. A spiritual master of this stature experiences every moment as pleasant and peaceful regardless of what may be happening to her or his body and mind. For instance, such a person would be aware of the body's torment when suffering from some terrible disease, such as cancer, but naturally remain in a serene state anyway.

Tree Pose - Vrikshaasana

Come to stand in posture

Feel your weight equally on all four corners of both feet.

Begin to shift the weight over to the right foot, lifting the left foot off the floor

Bend the left knee, bringing the sole of the left foot high onto the right knee (Inhale and retain)

Press the foot into the knee.

Try not to let the right hip jut out. Keep both hips squared towards the front.

Focus on something that doesn't move to help you keep your balance. Exhale and come back to standing posture.

Repeat the move while standing on the left foot

 benefits: Strengthens legs, improves balance