What is Yoga?

Yoga is a holistic path, including social conduct, personal rules, physical postures (asanas), yogic breathing (pranayama), control of the senses, concentration and meditation. The ultimate goal of this journey is enlightenment.

The foundation of this system is known as the “8 limbs of yoga”. Patanjali wrote the yoga-sutra (100 to 500 BC) and described the 8 limbs as fundamental to the practice of Yoga.

The path the most practiced in Western countries is Hatha-Yoga. Hatha yoga attempts to balance mind and body via physical postures, purification practices, controlled breath, and calming the mind through relaxation and meditation.

Yoga is an art of living, that we discover on a mat and apply in daily life. We embark in a journey toward a fulfilled and happy life.

The 8 limbs of Yoga

1. Yama is attitude. (Non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, control of desire, and non-greed)
2. Nyama is personal observances. (Purity, contentment, discipline, self –study, devotion to a god)
3. Asana is the practice of poses.
4. Pranayama is the control of the breath.
5. Pratyahara is the control of the senses.
6. Dharana is concentration.
7. Dhyana is meditation.
8. Samadhi is self-realization or enlightenment.

Different path of Yoga

• Raja-Yoga is the path of meditation,
• Jnana-Yoga is the path of knowledge and discernement
• Karma-Yoga is the path of selfness service
• Bhakti-Yoga is the path of devotion
• Hatha Yoga, the path of physical purification