The Origin and Philosophy of Yoga
Yoga is a powerful tool to help you blossom and reach your full human potential. The seeds are all within you, yoga is the water, the sunlight, the nutrients and the love they need in order to make your life vibrant, beautiful and full of sweet fragrance. The proliferation of yoga classes and yoga centers throughout the Western world, is the evidence of the power of yoga to enliven the physical wellbeing. Yoga postures can increase your flexibility, strengten your muscles, improve your posture and enhance your circulation.
Yoga is not a religion, it is really a science with which to develop your body, mind and spirit. The word ” YOGA” is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj which means “to unite.” Hence the ultimate goal of Yoga, which literally means, Union, is to reunite you with the Universal Source. This Universal Source can be called by any name you wish, God, Brahman, Allah, Christ Consciousness, Buddha Nature etc. It is the union of body, mind, and soul; the union of the ego and the spirit; the union of the mundane and the divine. Yoga is a pathway to bring you to the realization that you and this Universal Source are inseparably One.
Yoga in its basic essence has its origins in India. Yoga began in India as part of life and also as part of the Indian culture. During the ancient period, Yoga was some sort of a secret known only by a few. The Yogis knew that Yoga practised in the right way had tremendous power. It was practiced in a small community because real yogis feared that if yoga would fall into the wrong hands could be misused.
Yoga is a central component of the comprehensive system of Indian philosophy known as Vedic science. The Vedas represent the poetic cognitions of enlightened sages on the origins of the universe and the evolution of life. The Vedas are the expression of perennial wisdom, and yoga is the practical aspect of Vedic science. Through the practise of the Yoga system, one can directly access the wisdom of life. A man’s mind and body are in this ever-changing world. but his essence – his soul – comes from a dimension that is beyond change.
There is no other discipline like Yoga because it utilises the body, mind and spirit, all in one practice. Yoga indeed is a spiritual path that is based on ancient sacred philosophy, but one does not need to make an ethical decision when practicing Yoga, rather find their own path. The holistic benefits of Yoga are suitable for teh young or old, sick or well, irrespective of their religious background. The secrets of Yoga are inwardness, concentration, and purification of mind and body with cleansing thoughts and food.
