| Yoga is a practice that people do keep their bodies in | | | | will reach, what is called "meditation". Most meditators |
| shape. All of the elements of Yoga were inherited | | | | express deeper feelings of joy, peace, and |
| form the practice of Hinduism. Ethnic principles, and | | | | self-oneness. The focus of meditation differs between |
| body principles, along with spiritual guidance and | | | | yoga teachers. Some may focus more on peaceful |
| philsophy are just some of the features associated | | | | thoughts, spiritualism, or a better sense of well-being, |
| with Yoga. Yoga is usually taught, by a person called a | | | | while others will focus on the more physical aspects |
| "Guru". Their intentions are to teach people how to | | | | like, different types of stretches for getting the body |
| obtain a quieter state of mind through meditation. Quiet | | | | into being more fit. All would agree though that |
| breathing and chanting "mantras" are practiced to help | | | | meditation for either the spiritual part or physical part of |
| the person get to the "quiet" state of mind. | | | | yoga is the most practiced. |
| Yoga is supposed to lead a person to better health, | | | | A little bit of history on yoga comes from the Indus |
| and a calmer, more emotional well-being. Mental clarity | | | | Valley Civilization that was around somewhere in |
| and a joy in living are the main thoughts imposed upon | | | | between six or seven thousand years ago. The |
| a person who practices Yoga. The steps in Yoga | | | | earliest accounts of yoga were documented in the Rig |
| ultimately are supposed to lead to an advanced state | | | | Veda. This was a certain type of writing used back |
| of meditation called "samadhi". | | | | around 1500 to 2000 BC. However, the full description |
| All the goals of Yoga are expressed in different ways | | | | of yoga was first found in the "Upinasads" composed |
| among a lot of different traditions. In Hinduism the main | | | | around the eighth century before Christ. The main |
| thought is that yoga brings people closer to God. In | | | | thought of the Upinasads was that they constituted |
| Buddhism practices, yoga is supposed to help people | | | | the end or conclusion of the "traditional body of spiritual |
| get a deeper sense of wisdom, compassion, and | | | | wisdom". The Upinasads used to offer sacrifices and |
| insight. In some of the farther Western countries, | | | | hold certain types of ceremonies to appease the |
| individualism is the strongest emphasis, so yoga would | | | | Gods. They used the thought that man could please |
| help people there get a better meaning in themselves. | | | | the external gods by these sacrifices and in return that |
| But, the ultimate goal of yoga is to actually attain | | | | they would become one with the Supreme Being, |
| liberation, from any type of suffering and/or the cycle | | | | through moral culture, restraint, and a stronger training |
| of birth and death. | | | | of their minds. |
| The word "yoga" derives from a sacred root of | | | | With all the different types and practices of yoga, one |
| "Sanskrit", which in English means "yoke". The general | | | | person has so many types to choose from. Whether |
| translation of yoga is a "union of the individual with the | | | | they want a more peaceful inner self, a stronger |
| universal soul". The diversity of yoga involves many | | | | sense of well-being, or a body that will be put into |
| subdivisions, but everyone would agree that "the path | | | | better shape. All practices contain a characteristic |
| to enlightenment" is the best suited phrase for yoga. | | | | designed for each purpose. While some practices are |
| A common theme of yoga is the practice of | | | | argued about, all have one thing in common, it is |
| concentration. The concentration is mainly focused on | | | | practiced regularly around the world by many, and it is |
| one point of sensation. When you sustain this | | | | growing more popular every day. |
| "concentration" for a long enough period of time you | | | | |