YOGA: What Is It?

Roots of Yoga

The word YOGA comes from the Sanskrit word ‘juga’ or yoke.  Such as the yoke that connects the ox to the plow; or the yoke that unites a person to God or Higher Self.  

The oldest written records of yoga practice is from 15th century India.  It is possible that yoga was around well before that, as sacred information was only shared orally for many centuries.

There are 8 limbs of yoga. The limbs are like the limbs of a tree that take us to the same place: enlightenment or awareness of our connection with God or the Higher Self.  

One limb of the yoga tree is asana practice, where the body moves into various positions in order achive physical strength, flexibility, and mental clarity.  Another limb is pranayama, where breathing exercises are used to achieve a soothing of the nervous system and freeing of mental stress.  

Modern Day Yoga

Yoga has evolved since it's introduction in the West.  In the United States at this time, the focus is on physical health and stress management.  So, most of today's yoga classes consist of asanas (body poses), sometimes with pranyama (breathing exercises) and a period of deep relaxation. 

Yoga is currently a very accessible tool for physical well-being and/or spiritual growth.  One person is doing yoga to lose a few pounds, while another does it to get more inner peace, and another just wants to get out of the house!

Will the popularity of yoga continue to grow in leaps and bounds, or will it fade into the background?  Only time will tell...

Is Yoga a Religion?

Yoga is not a religion. 

Rarely is a modern yoga class associated with a particular religion.  If you’re not sure—ask the teacher.  Many people do yoga and embrace their religion—be it Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism or Buddhism.  In fact, for many, yoga gives a personal experience that enriches their traditional religious beliefs. 

Yoga and Me

Yoga makes my body feel good and my mind more stable.  Yoga keeps teaching me about how important it is to love and accept myself and others.  Yoga gives me an enormous respect for the power of love and forgiveness.  More than anything, it keeps my eyes open to the Grace of life!

So, did you hear the one about the young woman who was worried about her habit of biting her fingernails down to nothing and advised by a friend to take up yoga?She did, and soon her fingernails were growing normally.  Her friend asked her if yoga had totally cured her nervousness.  "No," she replied, "but now I can reach my toe-nails so I bite them instead."