Today’s Question – What is Yoga and where did Yoga Originate?

Yoga is a widely met practice all over the world and is getting more and more popular as a hobby and as a recreational way of spending time.

The word YOGA has a big variety of meanings but its considered to derive from the Sanskrit ancient word Yog what means to bind, to connect, to join, attach and yoke. Who the first yogi really was is lost in the sands of time, but the roots of Yoga can be traced as long as 5000 years back. The earliest reference to Yoga was found when archaeological excavations were made in the Indus valley - the most powerful and influential civilization in the early antique period. However, according to most scholars, Yoga can’t be recognized as a complete and complex tradition before about 500 before our ere.

Vedic Yoga, also known as Archaic Yoga, revolves around the thought of reuniting the visible material world with the invisible spiritual world by sacrificing certain things. In order to practise these rather long rituals successfully it was necessary to be able to focus the mind to a very high level.

Yoga Types: Bhakti Yoga emphasizes love and devotion; it is a system of Yoga in which love and devotion are given emphasis. Hatha yoga (”the yoga of vitality’) - The Foundation is an easy form of Yoga. Hatha Yoga is said to be the basis of all Yoga systems. Jnana Yoga - The Yoga of Knowledge emphasizes the use of the mind to surpass the mind i.e. to discern the mind. Karma yoga (”the yoga of action”) - the Yoga of Selfless Action. Karma Yoga lays emphasis on selfless action and service. Kundalini with emphasis on the breath in conjunction with physical movement, with the purpose of freeing energy in the lower body and allowing it to move upwards. Mantra yoga means “union by voice or sound”. This form includes the rhythmic repetitions of specific sounds, chants, or mantras. Purna Yoga or integral yoga is said to be an improvisation over the traditional Yoga systems of India. Raja yoga- The Highest form of yoga. An important branch of Yoga, Raja Yoga is a one stop solution for complete and holistic healing. Raja Yoga possesses the positive power of influencing the life of human beings.

Yoga is both an art and a science. As an art, it is as refined and intricate as classical music. As a science, it is as complex and precise as physics. Joy lies in its infinite exploration. Equipped with a greater awareness of what makes a successful yoga studio and teacher, your choices should support you in moving forward into greater joy. Go explore the many joys, and challenges, that come from the profound art and intricate science that is yoga.