Yoga is a system built on three main structures: exercise, breathing, and meditation. When yoga is practiced regularly, these systems are designed to work in unison and produce a clear mind and a strong body. There are four types or “paths” of yoga: Jnana, the path of knowledge; Bhakti, the path of devotion; Karma, the path of action; and Raja, the path of self-control. For each path, there are a number of different styles of yoga practiced. Hatha yoga (which is actually part of Raja yoga) is the form most popular in the West and focuses on postures and breathing.
An ancient Hindu system of exercises, postures, meditation, breathing and relaxation, designed to promote physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing by creating union between the body, mind and spirit.
In its deeper sense, Yoga is union of the lower self with the higher self, of the inner with the outer, mortality with immortality. Yoga postures (asanas) promote health, flexibility, and purity toward achieving the state of Yoga.
The practice of unifying the mind and body, self and cosmic self. Commonly practised as postures, breathing techniques and meditation practices to harmonise the health of the body and mind.
A Hindu discipline which promotes spiritual unity with a Supreme Being through a system of postures and rituals.
Any one of dozens of systems and methods derived from or based on Hindu yoga. Many include breathing exercises and postures which are thought to aid health.
An ancient holistic Indian system that uses controlled breathing, specific body postures, and meditation to achieve a state of balance and harmony between the body and the mind; a philosophy and way of life. Yoga exercises, or postures, stretch muscle groups in the body while gently squeezing internal organs. Breathing techniques are practiced before and during exercise to help focus the mind. Yoga can be a useful relaxation technique and may provide health benefits such as lowering blood pressure and respiratory rate.
A system of Hindu philosophy and physical discipline involving special breathing techniques and a series of prescribed physical poses. These are intended to relax the body and teach the individual mental and physical control.
A system of traditional Hindu beliefs, rituals, and activities that aims to provide spiritual enlightenment and self-knowledge. In the Western world, the term has been associated primarily with physical postures (asanas) and coordinated, diaphragmatic breathing. Many practitioners of complementary medicine use yoga to treat chronic musculoskeletal pain, anxiety, insomnia, and other conditions.
The name commonly used to refer both to a system of Hindu philosophy and to the method prescribed within that system for attaining samadhi, the state of inner peace and equilibrium that Hindu philosophers customarily describe as a mystical union with the universal consciousness. Following conventional usage, Yoga (capitalized) here denotes the former sense of the term, and yoga (lowercase) the latter sense.
As a fully articulated metaphysical system in its own right, Yoga ranks among the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy. The guiding philosophy of the Yoga school is elaborated in the Yoga Sutra, which was compiled by Patanjali (second century, B.C.E.). Scholars have long noted that the Yoga system differs very little from the older, more established Samkhya system, especially with respect to the underlying metaphysical principles shared by the two systems. A noteworthy addition to the Yoga system is the introduction of a deity, Isvara, who serves primarily as an object on which yogis can focus their attention while performing their spiritual exercises. Because Isvara plays no active role in the metaphysical system of the Yoga philosophy, however, some scholars speculate that he was introduced for largely pragmatic reasons, perhaps to attract theistically inclined apostates from the Samkhya system.
A form of meditation practiced in the Hindu religion; secular versions of Hatha yoga emphasize learning aspects of physical discipline.
This practice is a form of exercise that places a great deal of emphasis on maintaining equilibrium, specifically in terms of posture, while also emphasizing controlled breathing, slow movements, and meditation techniques. Its primary aim is to minimize feelings of tension and anxiety, as well as to relieve stress, with the added benefit of improving joint mobility and muscle conditioning.
Yoga, a system of Hindu philosophy and physical practice, has gained widespread popularity worldwide. The predominant form of yoga practiced in Western countries is hatha yoga. Practitioners engage in a sequence of poses known as asanas to stimulate nerves and organs while also strengthening muscles. Additionally, they incorporate a set of techniques for controlling their breath, referred to as pranayama, which aids in relaxing the body and achieving mental tranquility. Notable variations of hatha yoga include Iyengar and ashtanga, often referred to as “power yoga.”
Yoga practice promotes flexibility, imparts physical and mental control, and serves as a relaxation technique.
It is advisable to practice yoga only under the supervision of a certified instructor. Attempting yoga without proper guidance, especially for individuals in poor health or if performed incorrectly, can potentially lead to health risks, including back problems, high blood pressure (hypertension), and an increase in eye pressure known as glaucoma.