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