What is yoga?

It is said in one of the chapter of the Bhagavad Gita that yoga means harmony. The word ‘yoga’ comes from Sanskrit word yug, which means ‘to yoke’, or bind together. Yoga binds together the various parts of ourselves, body, mind, and spirit. It helps us reconnect the different aspects of our personality to the inner Self or spirit within us. With the practice of yoga we become more aware of our true nature. We bring our mind home. We discover that our body is the temple of the divine, our mind is the altar of the divine and our heart is the home of the divine. Yoga helps to make our entire life spiritual. Yoga is not a religion; it is an art of living, joyfully, peacefully, blissfully.

yoga pose

Understanding Traditional Yoga

The science of yoga was known and practiced but not clearly documented until 200 AD, when a sage and yogi called Patanjali systematised and codified the science of yoga into what became the yoga sutras. Below we see the system he called Ashtanga yoga, the eight steps that will lead us to enlightenment.

Yamas is the art of moderation and restraint.

Niyamas gives the ground rules for purity of body and mind, discipline and contentment awareness and self knowledge.

Asanas or yogic postures, keeps the body healthy and the mind calm; the gentle practice of poses creates an atmosphere in which the life energy can flow smoothly sustaining and complementing the postures.

Pranayama focuses on experiencing the link between the breath, the mind, and the body. It is the control and regulation of the breathing to calm the mind and relax the body.

Pratyahara is the process of becoming aware of, and learning to control thought pattern. It is the right management of the senses so that they are no longer distracted by outside objects.

Dharana is a state of concentration, when the mind is focused on an object in one pointed manner.

Dhyanais meditation; it is when concentration becomes natural.

Samadhi is a state of illumination, bliss, absorption and joy, when the mind identifies with the Self and experiences a deep sense of inner peace, and joy.