What is YOGA?
Developed in India, Yoga is a psycho-physical discipline with roots going back about 5,000 years. Today, most Yoga practices in the West focuses on the physical postures called “asanas,” breathing exercises called “pranayama,” and meditation. However, there’s more to it than that, and the deeper you go the richer and more diverse the tradition becomes. The word “Yoga” means union. Linguistically, it is related to the Old English “yoke.” Traditionally, the goal of Yoga is union with the Absolute, known as Brahman, or with Atman, the true self. These days the focus is often on the more down-to-earth benefits of Yoga, including improved physical fitness, mental clarity, greater self-understanding, stress control and general well-being. Spirituality, however, is a strong underlying theme to most practices. The beauty of Yoga is in its versatility, allowing practitioners to focus on the physical, psychological or spiritual, or a combination of all three. (Top) .
Yoga is an ancient system of self healing and self care. Ancient Yogis used it to reach enlightenment. Maharishi Patanajali divided it into 8 parts Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana Samadhi. In West, Yoga is recognised as Postures only whose Sanskrit word is “Asana”. Traditionally, there are four forms of Yoga Gyan, Bhakti, Karma, and Raja.
Yoga is a 5,000 year old system of health that benefits all aspects of an individual – physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual. Yoga is not a religion, anyone can practice yoga. The original purpose of the postures and breathing exercises was to prepare practitioners to sit still and alert for long periods of time in meditation. It is the oldest physical discipline in existence. It is a scientific system designed to bring the practitioners health, happiness, and a greater sense of self. In Yoga, the body and mind are linked to create a state of internal peacefulness and integration, bringing the individual from a state of separation to a self-unity that is flexible, accepting and whole. At the practical level, Yoga utilizes stretching postures, breathing, and meditation techniques to calm the emotional state and the mind, and tone the body. Today, over 20 million people in the United States practice yoga. Yoga is so many things and means something different for every individual
