The term yoga has different meanings which are derived according to the situation. To join, unite, is the most common meaning of the term.

What is being united? Yoga says it is a union of atma (soul) and paramatma (God or GodÂ’s soul). Yoga is a path to this divine union. Yoga science doesnÂ’t rule out the existence of other paths to this union. Rajayoga or Raja Yoga is the path to divine union of atma and paramatma.

The ultimate goal of Raja Yoga is to seek union of God. Before atma and paramatma can unite, mind and body must unite. Only with the union of body and soul can a person attain ultimate union, which is also called moksha or (ultimate) salvation.

If mind and body are in union, all our activities will be flawless. This is quite in tune with modern psychology advices. Put your mind where your body is. Or concentrate on the task you are doing now.

Another way to explain this concept of yoga is – give the power of mind to the actions you take. If you can do this, all your actions will give results. You will never need to do the job twice to get the result once. Do the jobs once and immediately get the result? Apply your complete concentration on whatever trivial things you do.

Yoga also tells that the efficiency or proficiency of oneÂ’s job as yoga. This state is pleasurable to both mind and body.

Yoga is a scientifically designed combination of physical, mental and breathing exercises aimed at physical endurance and flexibility, clarity of thought and spiritual fulfillment. The system of yoga is developed in India over many centuries before B.C. 3000. Yoga practicing includes controlling external and internal physical activity, breathing and thoughts and focusing all those energies towards a pre-defined goal. The goal can be freedom from a physical or mental ailment, or ultimate salvation of soul from the cycle of birth and death – moksha.

The word yoga means ‘union’. Yoga is the union of mind and body, and mind and soul. The union of mind and body is attained through a combination of yoga postures called asana. Here the physical activities are controlled and the mind is brought to a single point. From this point, a yogi can attain deep enlightenment about his or her own existence and purpose of life, which is the path to spiritual salvation.

The Divisions of Yoga

Yoga has eight limbs. Eight limbed yoga is called ashtanga yoga (ashtam means eight and angam means an organ, a limb). The eight limbs of yoga are

1. Yama – don’ts
2. Niyama – do’s
3. Asanas – postures
4. Pranayama – control of breathing
5. Pratyahara – freedom from senses
6. Dharana – self awareness, concentration
7. Dhyana – meditation
8. Samadhi – super conscious state achieved through deep meditation

Only a few limbs of yoga are familiar with average people. You can find many people who believe yoga is only a set of exercise where people put their body in strange poses with stranger names.

The truth is yoga is a systematic system of leading well defined lives free from worries, diseases etc and a march towards the ultimate goal as a human being.

Types of Yoga

Yoga is also of many different types, the main among them are Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga. Each of them is interwoven and there is no clear distinction line to separate different types of yoga.

Conflicts and Skepticism

All the concepts of yoga are not easily digested. There are conflicts in thought regarding spirit, salvation and enlightenment. The so called scientifically thinking persons are people who voice against yoga. The truth is scientific findings are true till someone proves it untrue.

Scientific findings start as visionary in the minds of researchers. The electric bulb was first born in the mind of Thomas Edison, not in his laboratory. He first gave mental shape to his finding and his untiring efforts pushed open the knowledge of right combination of materials and factors, which humankind today enjoys.

The concepts of yoga are not born in any laboratory, but in the minds of many hundreds or even thousands of yogis. The physical form is visible in the form of specific advantages people get in the form of freedom from physical pains, mental worries and lack of motivation in life.

The knowledge about the history of yoga practice in India is limited to BC 3000. The practice of yoga would have started by the people lived on the banks of Indus river, the place of Indus Valley Civilization. Rig Veda is the first to mention the term Yoga. Yoga practice is common in Buddhist and Jain rituals. There are signs yoga was practiced even before BC 5000 or even BC 6000.

Vedic Period: Development of Yoga

Rig Veda has the first textural representation of yoga. The directions as described in Vedas had directions to practice rituals to free one’s mind. Yogis of this period were seers, who taught their disciples the practice and principles of yoga. The yogis during this time and before developed the practices of yoga. There were several divisions, but the underlining goal of all yoga practices were the same – attainment of salvation, deep inner consciousness and moksha.

Upanishads Period of Yoga Development

Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads and other texts have references and directions of practicing yoga. The text of Bhagavad Gita says yoga practice started much before the time of writing. Apart from Hindu texts, Buddhist and Jain texts too have references to practicing yoga and meditation. Buddhism puts great importance to yoga postures and meditation. It is also to be noted that Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment in a deep meditation.

Attempts had also been on in Gita to unify all the different types of yoga – Bhakti Yoga (devotion), Jnana Yoga (Knowledge) and Karma Yoga (Yoga through Selfless Action).

Patanjali Yoga Sutras

Patanjali, the seer is the first to classify the eight limbs of yoga and to provide a systematic approach to yoga practice. The eight limbs are specific stepping stones one must pass in the given order. The last step is Samadhi or ultimate salvation from physical restraints and the cycle of births and death.

Social conduct, physical exercise, breathing exercise, meditation etc are the paths to attain the ultimate goal.

Modern Period of Yoga

Today a section of yoga, called Hatha Yoga is popular world wide. The concentration is mainly on healthy physique and mind. Yoga asana, breathing exercise and meditation are the main steps followed by modern practitioners of yoga. However practicing these aspects of yoga can lead to self awareness and take the person to higher levels of spiritual fulfillment.

Ashtam means eight and anga means a bodily organ. Asthanga yoga therefore translates into means yoga with eight branches, organs or limbs. Ashtanga Yoga is actually the directions of yoga acharya Patanjali. It forms the core of all Yogas.

The eight organs of yoga as put forth by Pathanjali are

1. Yama – includes five abstentions, which are
  Ahimsa (not killing or hurting other people and living things by thought, words or action)
Satya (keeping away from lies. truth – words, thoughts and action based on truth)
Astheya (not stealing)
Brahmacharya (abstaining from sex, now it is diluted to illicit sex)
Aparigraha (freedom from material possessions or avoiding all that items that are not necessary for our survival and growth)

The Yamas lead a person in path of truth and morality.

2. Niyama includes five practices we must follow, they are
 Shaucha (purity)
 Contentment
 Tapa (Austerity)
 Swadhaya (Educating mind with the right knowledge) and
 Iswara pranidhana – (Surrendering completely to God)

Following the Niyamas is really personal and is an indication of the general attitude of the person towards his or her life. It is also about the kind of life we create for ourselves.

3. Asana – is a sitting position, posture or pose.
All the postures yoga followers practice is included in asana. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra gives clear guidance to practicing asanas. These asanas give flexibility and strength to all parts of body.

4. Pranayama – or control of breath
It is a means of controlling the vital life energy called prana.

5. Dharana – knowing what some really is (the goal) and concentration on that goal.

6. Pratyahara – an abstraction or remaining untouched by external happenings

7. Dhyana – Meditation

8. Samadhi – The result of deep meditation, where the mind rises to a super-conscious state of knowledge or enlightenment. This is also the state, where yogis experience divine union.

Those are the eight organs of asthanga yoga. These steps occur in the given order only.