What is Yoga?

There are many variants of yoga, all of which have their own unique practices and beliefs

To workout gurus, yoga is a form of exercises that stretch, tone and strengthen the body using yoga asanas (poses). The spiritual yoga practioners believe yoga is a means to achieve inner peace and balance of the mind, body and spirit. For some individuals, yoga is a religious belief and is followed as such.

Yoga originates from the Hindu philosophy used to attain spiritual insight and to harmonize the mind and body. Therefore, the meaning of yoga goes beyond just mere physical exercises. One of the side effects of performing yoga is the union of mind, body and spirit.

What is yoga? Yoga generally refers to the common use of a system of exercises.

The word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit "yeung", which means to join. A yoke as used on oxen is closely related, but also the same root gives us "join", "junction", "junta", "adjust", "joust", and "juxapose" to name a few.

There are many variants of yoga, all of which have their own unique practices and beliefs. For simplicity, we discuss the five most common yoga practices in this article.

HATHA: this is the most popular variety of yoga and one that has been commonly taught for years. So what is yoga for them?

For them it is perfecting the mind by way of perfecting the body.

Perfection is achieved by using a variety of poses, breathing techniques and meditation.

ASHTANGA: this yoga is another popular type that is faster than other yoga workouts. What is yoga for Ashtanga's?

For Ashtanga practitioner, an aerobic yoga workout routine is achieved by instilling quick and smooth transitions between poses.

KUNDALINI: this variant is focused on energy. What is yoga to Kundalini's? For them it is awakening and focusing on kundalini energy.

Kundalini energy is most easily compared to life energy that lies dormant in our bodies. It is commonly represented by a coiled snake.

MANTRA: this type of yoga that focuses on meditation by using words and sounds to calm the mind and body. What is yoga to Mantra's?

To the Mantra's, yoga involves chanting a word or phrase until the mind is in a meditative state and the superconscious is clearly revealed and experienced. The well known 'om' chant is commonly heard in this variant.

TANTRA: this type of yoga is an accumulation of practices and ideas. What is yoga to Tantra's?

To these practitioners, yoga is the art of seeking the use of divine power that flows through the universe to attain spiritual and/or material goals.

As you can see, yoga is a diverse practice, no matter which variant you choose.

No matter which type of yoga you choose to perform, people young and old benefit from regular yoga practices. Asanas can be adjusted to fit physical limitations and other complications.

If you are tired of your monotonous workout routine of treadmills, weight rooms, or swimming, you should consider yoga. Not only will you benefit from a yoga routine physically, you will strive towards harmony of the mind, body and soul.

Yoga is mastering the body, mind, and emotional self, and transcendence of desire through the yoga positions. It is believed to attain inner-balance and to gain knowledge of the true nature of reality.

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