| Yoga is probably the oldest defined practice | | | | quieting the breath, and stilling the mind |
| of self development. Founded on principles | | | | through meditation. These elements are |
| that promote development of self awareness, | | | | sometimes adapted to meet the needs of |
| through the practice of physical asanas | | | | non-Hindu practitioners. |
| (postures), the understanding and practice of | | | | |
| pranayama (breath control) insight and | | | | Proponents of yoga see daily practice as |
| awareness is gained of the physical, mental | | | | beneficial in itself, leading to improved |
| and spiritual nature and well-being of the | | | | health, emotional well-being, mental clarity, |
| individual. With this knowledge and practice, | | | | and joy in living. Yoga adepts progress |
| one has the opportunity to adjust and change | | | | toward the experience of samadhi, an advanced |
| aspects and habitual patterns that have | | | | state of meditation where there is absorption |
| discouraged the development and attunement | | | | in inner ecstasy. |
| that leads to a balanced life. | | | | |
| | | | The goals of yoga are expressed differently |
| This enables an individual to glimpse and | | | | in different traditions. In theistic |
| live a reality that is even more alive than | | | | Hinduism, yoga may be seen as a set of |
| many experience as the normal state of | | | | practices intended to bring people closer to |
| living. | | | | god - to help them achieve union with god. In |
| | | | Buddhism, which does not postulate a |
| Today yoga is interpreted as either: a) A | | | | creator-type god, yoga may help people deepen |
| demanding fitness program that stretches and | | | | their wisdom, compassion, and insight. In |
| strengthens the spine, tones the body and | | | | Western nations, where there is a strong |
| develops a sense of well being within b) A | | | | emphasis on individualism, yoga practice may |
| way of learning to relax, de-stress and | | | | be an extension of the search for meaning in |
| practice breathing techniques that increase | | | | self, and integration of the different |
| lung capacity, work the cardiovascular system | | | | aspects of being. The terms Self-Realization |
| and allow the individual to cope with the ups | | | | and god-Realization are used interchangeably |
| and downs of modern life. | | | | in Hindu yoga, with the underlying belief |
| | | | that the true nature of self, revealed |
| c) The embrace of a philosophical methodology | | | | through the practice of yoga, is of the same |
| that is based on experiential learning. One | | | | nature as god. |
| that allows the awareness of physical reality | | | | |
| and activation within the body to be | | | | The ultimate goal of yoga is the attainment |
| stimulated or suppressed for maximum benefit. | | | | of liberation (Moksha) from worldly suffering |
| | | | and the cycle of birth and death (Samsara). |
| d) A philosophy of life that codifies | | | | Yoga entails mastery over the body, mind, and |
| principles of conducting and living life so | | | | emotional self, and transcendence of desire. |
| that the development of a witness | | | | It is said to lead gradually to knowledge of |
| consciousness might evolve and with it an | | | | the true nature of reality[citation needed] . |
| understanding of the self. | | | | |
| | | | The Yogi reaches an enlightened state where |
| e) Meditation - the practice of concentration | | | | there is a cessation of thought and an |
| on a single object to calm the mind, | | | | experience of blissful union[citation needed] |
| cultivate inner stillness and merge into the | | | | . This union may be of the individual soul |
| experiential awareness of Oneness. | | | | (Atman) with the supreme Reality (Brahman), |
| | | | as in Vedanta philosophy; or with a specific |
| f) A spiritual practice that develops the | | | | god or goddess, as in theistic forms of |
| experience of Oneness and allows the | | | | Hinduism and some forms of Buddhism. |
| individual to let go of all ties that create | | | | |
| separation from this reality. | | | | Enlightenment may also be described as |
| | | | extinction of the limited ego, and direct and |
| Through yoga information of the world, the | | | | lasting perception of the non-dual nature of |
| self and its constituencies allow dependency | | | | the universe. |
| to be replaced by interdependency. | | | | |
| | | | For the average person still far from |
| It can be any or all of these things - the | | | | enlightenment, yoga can be a way of |
| decision is up to the individual as to which | | | | increasing one's spiritual awareness, or |
| aspects they choose to develop. | | | | cultivating compassion and insight. While the |
| | | | history of yoga strongly connects it with |
| Modern yoga practice often includes | | | | Hinduism, proponents claim that yoga is not a |
| traditional elements inherited from Hinduism, | | | | religion itself, but contains practical steps |
| such as moral and ethical principles, | | | | which can benefit people of all religions, as |
| postures designed to keep the body fit, | | | | well as those who do not consider themselves |
| spiritual philosophy, instruction by a guru, | | | | religious. |
| chanting of mantras (sacred syllables), | | | | |