Yoga

Definition

Pronunciation: YOH-gah

Union; to yoke; connection

About 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.