The Different Paths of Yoga and the Pitfalls Along the Way

Lex Enrico Santí, LCSW, MFA

I have been on the path of yoga, seemingly, all my life. I have enjoyed sharing perspectives and the spiritual path as part of my method of supporting clients and connecting what it means to be a being who is working on themselves in this lifetime. I don't always get it right--and the path of trying to work on yourself is fraught with pitfalls. Here is some of what I have learned of being on the yogic path.

Yoga, in its truest sense, is not merely physical postures but a profound system for realizing one's highest nature. The four major paths—Jnana (knowledge), Bhakti (devotion), Karma (action), and Raja (meditation and discipline)—each offer a different route toward self-realization. Yet, as with any path, there are inherent pitfalls that can lead a seeker astray. As Ramakrishna, Swami Vivekananda, and the Yoga Sutras teach, understanding how one can be lost on the path is as crucial as understanding the path itself. Only through awareness of these detours can true spiritual progress be made.

Abstract interpretation of yoga sutras through fluid, intertwining forms, embodying balance and harmony in art.

Jnana Yoga: The Path of Knowledge

Jnana Yoga, the path of wisdom and discernment, is often considered the most difficult. It demands the seeker to inquire deeply into the nature of the self, peeling away layers of illusion (maya) through reasoning and direct experience. The ultimate goal is to realize the non-dual truth—"Tat Tvam Asi" (Thou Art That).

The Pitfall: Intellectual Arrogance

The seeker of knowledge may become trapped in the illusion of the mind itself. Swami Vivekananda warned that mere book learning does not equate to wisdom. Intellectual pride can create an identity more rigid than the ignorance one seeks to dispel. The mind can be a powerful tool, but it can also become its own prison.

Ram Dass, in discussing J. Robert Oppenheimer, beautifully illustrates this. Oppenheimer, upon seeing the atom through a powerful microscope for the first time, was able to think past his earlier judgments and theories and let them go. His wisdom lay in his ability to surrender intellectual rigidity and embrace a deeper truth beyond conceptual thought. This is the true essence of Jnana Yoga—not clinging to knowledge, but being willing to dissolve in wisdom.

Bhakti Yoga: The Path of Devotion

Bhakti Yoga is the path of love and surrender, where the seeker dissolves the ego in devotion to the Divine. Saints and mystics of all traditions have embodied this path, from Mirabai to Ramakrishna, who saw the Divine Mother in every moment of his existence.

The Pitfall: Fanaticism and Emotional Dependence

Swami Vivekananda warned that devotion, if unchecked, can lead to blind sentimentality or fanaticism. A devotee can become so attached to a particular form of God, scripture, or teacher that they lose the essence of divine love itself.

Ramakrishna would say, “God has infinite forms. The form you worship is just one way.” True Bhakti is not about attachment to a symbol but about dissolving into unconditional love. The mature Bhakta learns to love without clinging and worship without exclusion.

Karma Yoga: The Path of Action

Karma Yoga teaches selfless service—work done without attachment to the fruits of the action. The Bhagavad Gita reminds us, "Do your duty, but do not be attached to the results."

The Pitfall: Ego, Burnout, and Over-Identification with the Role of Helper

A Karma Yogi can easily fall into the trap of identifying too strongly with being "the doer." If one serves with even a subtle expectation of reward or recognition, the ego remains intact. Additionally, a lack of balance can lead to burnout—giving endlessly without inner replenishment.

Geometric Harmony: An Abstract Representation of Yoga's Balance and Flow

As a therapist, this resonates deeply with my own work. I have often found myself trying to determine where suffering begins in the lives of my clients, but I must also recognize that I cannot carry the weight of healing for them. I cannot grade my clients on their progress, nor attach myself to their success or failure. Therapy is not volunteer work; it is a profession that carries a deep karmic boon, but it must be approached with detachment from the outcome.

This lesson extends beyond professional relationships. At times in my life, I have collected people who depended on me, feeling obligated to be their friend because of my skills in helping. But friendships and relationships are not volunteer work. They should be mutual and symbiotic. If you find yourself in a dynamic where you are burning out, it may be time to reframe that relationship and evaluate whether it truly serves both people involved.

Raja Yoga: The Path of Meditation and Discipline

Raja Yoga is the path of mental control, using meditation to still the fluctuations of the mind (“Yogas chitta vritti nirodhah” – Yoga is the cessation of mental modifications, Yoga Sutras 1.2). Through practice, one attains deep states of meditative absorption (samadhi).

The Pitfall: Spiritual Pride and Isolation

With the power of meditation comes the danger of spiritual pride. A Raja Yogi who attains mystical states can easily become attached to these experiences, mistaking temporary states of bliss for permanent enlightenment.

Ramakrishna used to caution against this: “A salt doll went to measure the ocean, but as soon as it entered, it dissolved.” The final step is to surrender entirely. To experience unity but still hold onto an individual identity is to miss the last leap.

Hatha Yoga: The Path of the Body

Hatha Yoga, often seen as the physical path, is meant to purify the body and prepare it as a vehicle for deeper spiritual work. Yet, in the modern Western world, it has often become synonymous with physical perfection and aesthetic fitness.

The Pitfall: Attachment to the Body and Its Image

Many fall into the trap of identifying with the body’s capabilities, beauty, or limitations. The belief that the body must be perfect, strong, or pain-free can create attachment, suffering, and aversion to aging or illness.

Similarly, diet and wellness trends have made food an object of obsession, guilt, and control. Instead of using the body as a means of spiritual progress, many remain entangled in disciplining, punishing, or overly indulging it.

As the Yoga Sutras remind us, the body is a tool, not an identity. The true Hatha Yogi uses the body wisely but does not mistake it for the Self.

The Path of Power and the Pitfall of Manipulation

Many seekers become drawn to the path of power, which can emerge in any form of yoga. As one advances, mystical abilities (siddhis) or influence over others can arise.

The Pitfall: Manipulation and Corruption

Swami Vivekananda warned that power without wisdom leads to destruction. A yogi who develops psychic abilities or gains a following can fall into ego-driven control, using power for personal gain rather than service.

Ramakrishna advised that true spiritual strength is not in controlling others but in dissolving the ego completely. "A true saint never seeks power, only surrender."

Freedom Through Awareness

Each path has its beauty and its dangers. But when we are aware of the pitfalls, we move forward with clarity and wisdom. As Ram Dass reminds us, "When you identify too strongly with any aspect of the journey, you lose sight of the fact that it is still just a journey."

To truly walk the path of yoga is not to cling to any form, any method, or any experience. It is to keep going—to walk beyond even the greatest teachings—until nothing remains but the infinite.