The question of what is Yoga is one which is actually quite common which is rather surprising considering how long yoga has been around and how incredibly popular it has become, especially in recent years. Basically Yoga is a group of ancient spiritual practices originating in India.
What Is Yoga?
When it comes to the question of what is Yoga, there is really no one straight answer to this. Yoga originated in India more than three thousand years ago, and its most major and primary purpose is to help each person be able to achieve their highest potential and experience enduring health and happiness.
Outside India, Yoga has become primarily associated with the practice of asanas (postures) of Hatha Yoga although it has influenced the entire dharmic religions family and other spiritual practices throughout the world.
Some have even call yoga a scientific system of physical and mental practices. As well when it comes to the matter of what is Yoga, there is the matter of recognizing and understanding about the various different types of yoga, and for instance there is Hatha yoga, which is actually the base of yoga overall, and which begins by working on with the body on a more structural level.
At the same time, it helps by align the vertebrae, increase flexibility, strengthen muscles and connective tissue, tone and rejuvenate internal organs, and purify the epidermal, digestive, lymphatic, cardiovascular, and pulmonary systems of toxins and waste matter.
As well with the what is yoga question, there is another issue that needs to be addressed, and that is the issue of where yoga actually came from and what its main purpose is. Again this cannot be answered simply however there are certain major points which can be known.
Brief History Of Yoga
Basically, Yoga originated in India, and it was brought up there as a means to relax and calm people, sort of as a meditation technique. It was soon brought from India into the Western world, and has now become a sort of phenomenon, across North America in particular.
Yoga existed in some form well before the establishment of the vedas of the Indian subcontinent. The history of yoga may go back to at least eight thousand years, depending on the perspective of the historian, and interpretation of the Mohenjo-daro seals. These seals--5,000 year old carvings from the Indus Valley Civilization depict a figure that some archeologists believe represents a yogi sitting in meditation posture. The figure is shown sitting in a traditional cross-legged yoga pose with its hands resting on its knees. The seal’s discoverer, archeologist Sir John Marshall, named the figure Shiva Pashupati.
Yoga one of the six classic systems of Hindu philosophy, distinguished from the others by the marvels of bodily control and the magical powers ascribed to its advanced devotees. The doctrines and practices of Yoga date from the period of the Upanishads (8th to 5th century BC), Hindu esoteric and mystical writings. These practices were elaborated in the Yoga Sutra of the Indian scholar Patañjali which flourished in 2nd century BC?, who is traditionally regarded as the founder of Yoga.
Try Yoga
There are very few people who have not heard of Yoga, let alone try it for themselves, and this is for good reason, as yoga is one of the best all over exercises in the world. It works out not only your body but your mind and spirit as well, and so you will never feel as complete as you will from doing any other exercise besides yoga.
If you have never tried yoga before and you are looking for a great and beneficial exercise routine for yourself, then you are definitely going to want to give yoga a try, and without a doubt you are going to be impressed and end up making it a part of your everyday life.
In India, whose Hindu population is a staggering 800 million, Yoga is a daily part of life. It is common to see people performing Surya namaskara (is a yogic set of asanas and pranayam dedicated to Surya, the Sun) in the morning or body therapy based on Yoga or the medicine system of Ayurveda. The age old tradition of Yoga has continued uninterrupted by its popularity in the west (although more established schools like the Bihar School of Yoga work from within India to produce Yoga texts to send abroad).
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