Yoga is a word from Sanskrit language which means join, 2 or more things are needed to join. And when 2 or more objects are joined, then it becomes one object. There is connection and harmony between 2 objects which have become one. So yoga is all about oneness, experience of oneness, and feeling of harmony.
The word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning “to yoke,” or “to unite”. The practice aims to create union between body, mind and spirit, as well as between the individual self and universal consciousness. Such a union tends to neutralize ego-driven thoughts and behaviours, creating a sense of spiritual awakening.
Yoga, as a discipline means:
To engage
To participate
To get involved
To connect
Yoga is an Art and Science of healthy living. It is a spiritual discipline based on an extremely subtle science, which focuses on bringing harmony between mind and body. The holistic approach of Yoga is well established and it brings harmony in all walks of life and thus, known for disease prevention, promotion of health and management of many lifestyle –related disorders. Today, Yoga is popular across the globe, not just because of its efficacy in the management of some diseases, but also of its strength in providing relief to the practitioner, from mental and emotional distress and providing a feeling of well-being. Hence, now-a-days Yoga is being practiced as part of healthy life style across the globe.
Yoga is the counterbalance of the vortices of feeling. It includes every aspect of life. It promotes engagement with the world to create harmony. It boosts physical health and brings mental peace, thus helping us tune with our intrinsic nature. Maharishi Patanjali has defined yoga as the suppression of the modifications of the mind. Yoga works on the mind, energy and emotional levels of an individual, thus promoting physical and mental well-being.
Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years, and whilst many different interpretations and styles have been developed, most tend to agree that the ultimate goal of yoga is to achieve liberation from suffering. Although each school or tradition of yoga has its own emphasis and practices, most focus on bringing together body, mind and breath as a means of altering energy or shifting consciousness.
Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in ancient India. First codified by the sage Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras around 400 C.E, the practice was in fact handed down from teacher to student long before this text arose. Traditionally, this was a one-to-one transmission, but since yoga became popular in the West in the 20th century, group classes have become the norm
Modern yoga is most commonly associated with the physical practice of asana, a series of postures often weaved together in styles such as Vinyasa Flow or Ashtanga. Asana practice is generally intended to build strength and stamina, to improve flexibility coordination and balance, and to relax the body. However, this provides only one small aspect of the tradition of yoga as a whole.
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras provide the traditional foundation of yoga, in which he outlines an eightfold path of the practice. Known as the ‘Eight Limbs of Yoga,’ this path offers a guide to individuals who are dedicated to creating a union between body, mind and spirit.
Each of the Eight Limbs offers a means of living with more integrity, self-discipline, respect for nature and connection with the spiritual aspects of life. These eight practices are intended to be carried out in a holistic and integrative manner:
Image source: yogapedia
The four traditional paths of yoga are:
Bhakti (Devotion)
Karma (Action/selfless service)
Jnana (Knowledge/self-study)
Raja (Self-discipline/practice).
Yoga is also used as a therapeutic tool for many physical and mental conditions, and mind-body research is now demonstrating its effectiveness as a treatment for chronic pain, anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease and diabetes
There are two more definitions of yoga worth mentioning.
They are given by the intellectual path, Gyana, or Jnana Yoga, and the devotional path, Bhakti yoga.
The idea of oneness is the concept of Bhakti.
Thinking of God in personal terms, such as father, mother, friend, or beloved.
Eventually, this leads one to see and love God in all forms, rather than just in a chosen deity.
For deeper understanding: when I become one with everything around me at an emotional level, when I experience the same sadness for friends and I get tears in the eyes, this is becoming one.
Bhakti yoga is becoming one with the little flower or a tree, with mother nature, or when I am happy for others’ success.
Experiencing emotional oneness is what yoga is about.
It also says that yoga is oneness understood at an intellectual level, Gyana yoga.
Intellectually we know that if people suffer we have to help or contribute to others well being.
We all know that all kinds of inequalities exist and intellectually we understand that they are not correct, that we must try to have a system for everyone.
To conclude and understand what is the meaning of yoga is important to understand that yoga starts with the mind, ends with the mind.
Body, emotions and thoughts are tools, as well as breath, meditation and mantras, to achieve the state of mind which is experiencing oneness.
And that state of mind experiences oneness is a peaceful, evolved, balanced, positive, state of mind.Yoga is the conscious art of self-discovery, a process by which a human being expands its narrow, constricted, egoistic personality to an eternal and blissful state of reality.
Yoga is an all-around development of personality at a physical, mental, intellectual, emotional and spiritual level.
