| Yoga is an ancient art of physical and | | | | culture and training of the mind.Yoga is |
| spiritual well being that originated in | | | | loosely translated as "ordinary being |
| India. Even today in India it is a vibrant | | | | achieving union with the Supreme Being". The |
| living tradition, it is also seen as a means | | | | follower of yoga is called a yogi. The |
| to attain enlightenment. In other parts of | | | | practitioners who have made considerable |
| the world especially the west, where yoga is | | | | progress in yoga are called "yogin (male)" or |
| popular it is seen as a fitness exercise. | | | | yogini (female)".There are many types of |
| Throughout the world yoga has influenced | | | | yoga, but basis of most of the forms is |
| other religious and spiritual practices but | | | | concentration (dharana) and meditation |
| it is seen as an ultimate way of attaining | | | | (dhyana). The yoga text describes them as |
| enlightenment in Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism | | | | being interconnected; continuous single |
| and Jainism.History of Yoga researchers have | | | | pointed concentration gradually leads to |
| established the timeline of the sculptures of | | | | meditation, through which one's inner self |
| the meditating yogi from the Indus Valley | | | | expands and merges with something vast.The |
| Civilization to be around 6 to 7 thousand | | | | tradition of yoga incorporates the beliefs |
| years old. The ancient Hindu scripture Rig | | | | and techniques of yoga with the practical |
| Veda contains the earliest written account | | | | experience. Many gurus have written on the |
| about yoga. As it was maintained and | | | | subject, shedding meaning onto the ancient |
| communicated orally for almost a millennium | | | | yoga texts. Also a guru can open an |
| before it was penned down between 1500 and | | | | institution of yoga through which he can |
| 1200 B.C., it is very difficult to point out | | | | teach yoga the way he wants it. Many artists |
| the exact timeline. Patanjali (first yoga | | | | have derived their inspirations for art, |
| text) dated around 2nd century BC, preaches | | | | poetry, dance and music from yoga. The |
| about adherence to "eight limbs" to provide | | | | students who become associated with a |
| harmony to one's mind.The Upanisads thought | | | | particular yogic institution follow common |
| to have been written between the eight and | | | | practices, such as the mantras (chants) and |
| fourth centuries B.C provides the earliest | | | | studying sacred texts. The difference |
| complete narrative of the principles and | | | | between the various schools teaching yoga may |
| goals of yoga. Since Upanishads constitute | | | | always be the way of approach to the various |
| the end of Spiritual wisdom they are also | | | | types of yoga.The yogic gurus sometimes have |
| called as Vedanta. In the Vedantas, the | | | | been portrayed as going beyond every day way |
| practice of sacrificing animals and | | | | of life in a rule bound society, which does |
| conducting ceremonies in order to appease the | | | | not mean that they act in an unethical |
| gods was replaced by the understanding that | | | | fashion but will act to a certain extent with |
| man can achieve union with God by the means | | | | a direct knowledge of ultimate truth.Some of |
| of inner sacrifice. The inner sacrifice | | | | the notable yogis are Swami Vivekananda, |
| meant leading a life of restraint, moral | | | | Swami Sivananda, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. |