The definition of the word yoga is “to yoke”, to unite, therefore yoga means union. Yoga means to union in a sense that we are trying to unite our mind, body and spirit. We are also trying to find real union with that which is outside you. We are trying to unite with others, with the universe and with the divine that many believe that can be either inside us or a separated entity. We are searching for the wholeness, the oneness that each of us emerged from.
Most of us came to know yoga through Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga is a part of Yoga that involves the physical discipline through body postures or asanas. The earlier practitioners of Hatha Yoga believed that asanas were necessary to prepare the body and the mind to sit quietly through meditation. Therefore asanas were practiced to attain the ultimate goal of yoga as mentioned in the sutra 1.2 “ Yogas chitta vritti nirodhah” - Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind.
Yoga brings many benefits to our bodies and mind that goes from stress reduction, muscle toning and stretching as well as energy boosting.
