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The roots of Yoga can be traced back roughly 5000 years to the Indus Valley civilization, where seals depicting people performing asanas (Yoga Postu res) were used in trade along the river. The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word "Yuj" meaning to yoke, join or unite. It is a union of all aspects of an individual: body, mind and soul. Hence, Yoga reunites all opposites mind and body, stillness and movement, masculine and feminine, sun and moon in order to bring reconciliation between them. Yoga is one of the six branches in Indian Philosophy and is referred to throughout the Vedas, the ancient scriptures of India, Yoga is unity, identity, oneness sameness with the Supreme. |
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Yoga transcends the boundaries of time as well as all other manmade boundaries of country, caste & creed. Even though its origin go back many centuries, its need and utility are felt more in the present days and age of stress & pressures that seem to have taken over our lives at home and the work place. Yoga offers and opportunity to put everything in its proper perspective to lead our lives meaningfully. Yoga liberates the human soul from self-imposed bondages to live in perfect harmony with ones true Self and the Universe. Yoga teaches us to embrace positive life force that brings with it a life full of energy, inner strength and good health. It has been scientifically proven that the practice of yoga enhances the quality of life and eradicates disease from all levels of existence. |
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Yoga as usually taught in today's day and age is nothing more than a method of maintaining body fitness, physical vigor and mental health, etc. Having nothing in common with religion, this way of defining Yoga regards primarily the practice of Asanas, well known today for reducing stress and inducing relaxation. The purpose of the asanas is to immobilize the body, bring it under control and refuse movement in order to help concentrate. If the asanas are performed without following the prescribed moral concepts and not as a step on once spiritual path towards liberation, they have nothing in common with true Yoga. Through the symbol each posture represents (the locust, the fish, the candle, etc.) it involves a change of personality and is prescribed by the Guru according to the spiritual needs of his disciple, so that he may easily surpass his ignorant condition. |
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| Therefore Yoga cannot be reduced to a mere form of psychophysical therapy. It has always been considered a path towards transcendence, a way of surpassing the world of illusion and reaching ultimate reality. It was and still always is religious. It still aims to annihilate man's psycho-mental life. |
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