WHAT IS YOGA?
Developed in India, over 5000 years ago, yoga is an ancient psycho-physical discipline that aims at uniting the body, mind and spirit. Yoga aims to improve every aspect of your life- postures for a fit and supple body and breathing and meditation for the mind and spirit. The word 'yoga' means to join or to yoke, implying the integration of every aspect of a human being- from the innermost to the external. Traditionally, the goal of yoga is a union with the Absolute, or with your own true self. In today’s world the focus is more on the down-to-earth benefits of yoga, including improved physical fitness, mental clarity, greater self-understanding, stress control and general well-being.
2000 years ago the Indian sage Patanjali is believed to have written a treatise on yoga called the Yoga Sutra. The Yoga Sutras summarise the various aspects of yoga and outline the eight limbs of yoga: the yamas (restraints), niyamas (observances), asana (postures), pranayama (breathing), pratyahara (detachment), dharana (concentration), dhyani (meditation), and samadhi (trance or a state of bliss).
Most people practicing yoga today are engaged in the third limb, Asana, which refers to postures or yoga poses. Although there are many styles of yoga, the differences are usually about emphasis, such as focusing on strict alignment of the body, coordination of breath and movement, holding the postures, or the flow from one posture to another.
The aim of yoga is not simply to be able to twist yourself into some impossible posture. It is about fine tuning your body to a state where your mind, body and spirit exist in complete harmony. Most yoga classes include instructions for proper breathing which help in improving oxygen flow and focuses your mind; postures or asanas that stretch the body, build tone and strength, increase flexibility and improve coordination and deep relaxation for stress relief.
In today’s world yoga is seen as the complete mind and body workout and is the perfect antidote to the stresses of modern living.