Yoga, which means "union" in Sanskrit, aims to bring about the individual's oneness with the divine through physical activity, proper breathing, posture, dietary habits, and meditation. It is one of the six darshanas or orthodox systems of Indian philosophy.
Origin of Yoga
The origins of Yoga can be found in ancient India, where it evolved over many centuries. The tradition of classical yoga, also known as Raja-yoga, or "royal yoga," has its roots in the treatise known as the "Yoga-sutra," which was written in the second century BC. A man, or more likely several men, who wrote under the name Patanjali, composed this text over a long period of time. Through a series of eight progressive stages Raja-yoga seeks to free the self from the material world and the cycle of rebirth.
Yoga has evolved and adapted throughout its history as different schools and traditions created their own practices and interpretations. Over time, yoga spread beyond India's borders, gaining popularity worldwide as a form of physical exercise, stress relief, and spiritual exploration.
According to yoga, spiritual liberation takes place when the purusha, or self, is released from the entanglement in prakriti, or substance, which has developed as a result of ignorance and illusion. The goal of a Yogi, or anyone who does yoga, is to free oneself from these bonds and return to one's natural condition of purity and consciousness.
Yoga Principles
Yoga is described in eight progressive stages (ashtanga-yoga):
Yama and niyama are the first two stages, which are ethical preparations.
1. Yama, which means ("restraint"), refers to ahimsa (non-violence), abstinence from deception, theft, desire, and greed.
2. Niyama ("observance") denotes cleanliness of body, contentment, austerity, study, and devotion to God.
Asana and pranayama are the physical preparations for the next two stages.
3. Asana or ("seat") is a series of exercises in physical posture. It is intended to condition the aspirant's body and make it supple, flexible, and healthy. The ability to hold one of the prescribed postures for an extended period of time without involuntary movement or physical distractions is the true mastery of the asanas.
4. A set of exercises known as pranayama, or ("breath control"), aim to stabilise the rhythm of breathing in order to achieve total respiratory relaxation.
5. The fifth stage is known as pratyahara, or ("withdrawal"). It entails sensory control, or the capacity to direct the senses' focus away from external objects and toward the intellect.
These first five stages are external aids to Yoga. The remaining three are purely mental or internal aids.
6. Dharana, which means ("holding on"), is the capacity to hold and focus consciousness of the outside world on a single object for an extended period of time.
7. Dhyana, also known as ("concentrated meditation"), is the unbroken contemplation of the subject of meditation without any recollection of the ego.
8. Samadhi, often known as ("self-collectedness"), is the last stage of yoga. The aspirant will be able to attain samadhi once he has mastered the ability to suppress and control the distracting mental activity of his mind and has been successful in letting go of his connection to material possessions. Samadhi is a state of deep concentration that results in a blissful, ecstatic union with the ultimate reality (God).
In course of time, certain stages of Yoga became ends in themselves. Hatha-yoga, which developed out of raja-yoga, is the most popular form of yoga in the present day. It comes from the teachings of the yogi Gorakhnath, who lived about the year 1000 AD. Those who practice hatha-yoga seek to improve their health and sense of wellbeing through special breathing exercises and assuming special postures, and through concentration.
Advantages of Yoga
Yoga has numerous benefits that include physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Some of the key benefits of regular yoga practice include:
Yoga practice can control many physiological processes such as blood pressure, respiration, and heart rate.
Yoga is a sequence of physical postures that assist develop flexibility and strength in various muscles and joints.
Yoga helps you lose weight, stay mentally sharp and physically fit.
The stress-relieving effects of yoga can improve immune system function, making the body more resistant to infections.
The practice of yoga can aid with eye vision.
Yoga activities, including pranayama, can boost energy levels and invigorate the body.
Yoga is a good way to improve concentration.
It also lessens anxiety, makes you less upset at anything, and helps you be at peace.
This is likely the cause of the fact that the majority of yoga practitioners and students, especially those in the west, are inclined to place more emphasis on the health advantages of the practice than on its philosophical underpinnings.
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