Yoga Defined

The word Yoga means union. The traditional intention of practicing yoga was union with Atman, the true self, or with the Absolute, known as Brahman. In its current form, the focus of yoga is more often on down-to-earth benefits, including improved physical fitness, mental clarity, greater self-understanding, stress control and general well-being.

Yoga is a integrated 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.

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.

There are four paths of Yoga:
1) Jnana, the path of knowledge or wisdom;
2) Bhakti, the path of devotion;
3) Karma, the path of action; and
4) Raja, the path of self control.

Hatha Yoga, which includes postures and breathing, and is the form most popular in the West, is actually part of Raja Yoga, the path of self control. The path most followed in India is thought to be Bhakti Yoga, the path of devotion.