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