Yoga is one of the oldest systems of personal development in the world. Its aim is to balance body, mind and sprit. The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word ‘yuj’ which means to ‘join together’ or concentrate attention. Yoga is one of the six systems of Indian Philosophy. The first text on the subject is seen in the classical work, ‘Yoga Sutras’ of Patanjali, a book of 185 short passages. It was collated, co-ordinated and systematised by Maharishi (Sage) Patanjali, who is considered the ‘Father of Yoga’, around 200 BC.
According to ancient Indian history Yoga was taught and practised as an oral tradition. The essence of the subject deals with life permeated by a Supreme Universal Spirit (Param Atma) of which the individual embodied spirit (Jiva Atma) is a part. Yoga shows the way in which the individual can be united with the universal, and therefore attain liberation from the fluctuations that life brings.
The highly revered text on Yoga Philosophy, the ‘Bhagavad Gita‘, Lord Krishna explains this union. ‘A lamp does not flicker in a place where no wind blows; so it is with a Yogi, who controls his mind, intellect and self, being absorbed in the spirit within… when the restlessness of the mind, intellect and self is stilled through the practice of Yoga, then there is fulfilment. One who achieves this cannot be moved by the greatest sorrow. This is the real meaning of Yoga – deliverance from contact with pain and sorrow’.
Benefits of Yoga
Yoga aims at overcoming the limitations of the body and mind. Yoga teaches us that the goal of every individual life is to take the inner journey to the soul. Although Yoga is essentially a spiritual science, it leads to a sense of physical and emotional well-being.
Yoga poses are stimulative exercises that help to minimize the impact of stress on the body and mind. Yogic science believes that the regular practice of asanas and pranayama strengthens the nervous system and takes the mind to a tranquil and passive state.
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