Though you see the proliferation of yoga classes worldwide, only some people understand what Yoga is. When you see men and women in all poses in pictures and yoga classes, the question that naturally crops up in your mind is, “what is yoga?”
What is Yoga?
Yoga is an ancient branch of knowledge originating in India. The term yoga is derived from yuj – a Sanskrit word. It means “to integrate or unite”. When you ask, “What is Yoga” the answer is the union of a person’s consciousness and the universal consciousness.
Ancient saints and yoga practitioners believed that man needs to be in harmony with the environment and himself. For this purpose, Who must integrate the body, spirit, and mind. To integrate these three, action, intelligence, and Who must balance emotion. To achieve and maintain this balance, practitioners of Yoga formulated exercise, breathing, and meditation. These are the three pillars on which Yoga stands.
A satisfactory answer to “What is Yoga” can be found when we analyze the different components of Yoga. Let us take the different parts of Yoga.
- The body is treated with respect and care. The body is considered the essential and primary instrument for a person’s growth and activities. The exercises done in Yoga are aimed at improving circulation. They also stimulate the organs of the abdomen. Yogic exercises generate pressure on the glandular system of the body. It is believed that this process leads to better health.
- Breath is essential for life; Who thought that proper breathing techniques would improve health and stimulate meditation?
- In trying to find the meaning of meditation in yoga practice, people are apt to think that the mind must go blank in meditation. The idea needs to be corrected. In meditation, mental activities have to be brought to focus. This enables the mind to be quiet.
- Yoga helps us focus and relieves us from the stress and strain of our routine lives by formulating various body poses, breathing exercises, and following a course of meditation.
There are as many as six branches of Yoga.
Hatha Yoga
When we ask, “what is yoga?” we usually refer to the first and most visible one, namely the Hatha Yoga or the Yoga of the postures. This part of the yoga practice is the most popular. There are many styles in this practice.
Bhakti Yoga or Yoga of Devotion
Bhakti yoga teaches us to cultivate devotion to the one universal mind or “Brahma” by teaching our love and acceptance of what life has given us.
Raja Yoga
Do Yoga for self-controlling power.
Most of the Raja yoga practitioners are members of spiritual and religious orders.
Jnana Yoga or Yoga of the mind.
In Jnana yoga, wisdom and intellect attempted to be unified. Knowledge is crucial for this Yoga.
Karma Yoga or Yoga of service
For Karma yogis, doing selfless service is the key.
Tantra Yoga or Yoga of rituals
This type is very Controversial and practised by very few. Yoga is not simply an exercise but focuses on human development’s physical, mental, and spiritual aspects.
