Yoga

Yoga means union - the integration of individual consciousness with universal consciousness, or the state of connection between body, mind, and spirit. The word comes from the root yuj, meaning to yoke or join together.

In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, yoga is defined as chitta vritti nirodha - the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind. This definition points to yoga as a state of being, not merely a practice. The various yoga techniques are methods to achieve this state of mental stillness and inner union.

While modern usage often equates yoga with physical postures (asana), classical yoga encompasses much more: ethical guidelines, breath control, sense withdrawal, concentration, meditation, and ultimate absorption. The physical practice is one limb of an eight-limbed system designed to prepare the body and mind for deeper spiritual work.