INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT YOGA

Man Doing Yoga

Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul. The word is associated with meditative practices in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. Here are some interesting facts about YOGA :-


1. Yoga is one of India's six great ancient philosophies. Modern science has further defined yoga as an Indian science that concerns itself with the search for the soul and its union with the individual.

2. The word “yoga” is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj meaning to yoke or join together. It most often refers to the yoking of a conscious subject (jiva-atman) with a Supreme Spirit (parama ta man) in order to reach an ecstatic condition (Samadhi, a “placing or putting together”).

3. There are SIX distinct types of yoga with Hatha Yoga being the most popular and familiar one practiced in Western culture.


4. HATHA YOGA (Forceful path) is the yoga of physical well being and is used as a physical therapy. It consist of postures, breathing exercises, nerve control, mind control, meditation and spiritual enlightenment.

5. RAJA YOGA (Royal path) is used to develop mental discipline through concentration and meditation. It consist of moral discipline, self restraint, meditation, sensory inhibition, concentration, and ecstasy.

6. BHAKTI YOGA is type of yoga seeks to cultivate an open heart and helps one to develop selfless love and devotion to our Higher Power.

7. KARMA YOGA (enlightenment through work or action) is used to lesson our natural tendencies to desire. This type of yoga guides us to spiritual freedom through the discipline of work that is selfless and a service to others.

8. JNANA YOGA helps one to develop the discernment and wisdom to recognize the real from the unreal or true happiness from simple pleasure. 

9. TANTRA YOGA helps one to recognize that there is no gap between the world and our Greater Power and that our Greater Power can be found in everyday existence.

10. The pose is a sitting pose meant to resemble the perfect symmetry and beauty of a lotus flower. Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, and Shiva, a major god in Hinduism, are typically shown in this pose.