Yoga @ Body 2 Fit
What is Yoga?
Yoga is a non competitive system of practices which lead us on a journey of self discovery towards the ultimate aim of peace of mind.
The origins of Yoga stretch back several thousands of years before the birth of Christ. The practices were taught verbally until sometime before the 4th century B.C. a sage named Patanjali wrote them down. Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras are written in Sanskrit (India’s oldest language) but have been widely translated and are the most important text on Yoga today.
The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root ‘Yuj’ which means to unite. This is interpreted as uniting body, mind and spirit.
Patanjali outlines the following steps in his text:
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Yama = discipline towards others
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Niyama = discipline towards self
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Asana = the physical postures
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Pranayama = breathing practices
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Pratayahara = withdrawing of the senses
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Dharana = concentration
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Dhyana = meditation
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Samadhi = peace of mind