Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in ancient India. The word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning “to yoke,” or “to unite” . The practice aims to create union between body, mind, and spirit, as well as between the individual self and universal consciousness. The ultimate goal of yoga is to achieve liberation from suffering.

Yoga has been practiced for thousands of years, and while many different interpretations and styles have been developed, most tend to agree that the ultimate goal of yoga is to achieve liberation from suffering. Although each school or tradition of yoga has its own emphasis and practices, most focus on bringing together body, mind, and breath as a means of altering energy or shifting consciousness.

Modern yoga is most commonly associated with the physical practice of asana, a series of postures often weaved together in styles such as Vinyasa Flow or Ashtanga. Asana practice is generally intended to build strength and stamina, to improve flexibility, coordination, and balance, and to relax the body. However, this provides only one small aspect of the tradition of yoga as a whole.

There are many different styles of yoga, each with their own unique focus and approach to creating a unitive state. Some of the most popular styles include:

• Hatha Yoga: A gentle, slower-paced style that focuses on basic postures and breathing techniques.
• Vinyasa Yoga: A more dynamic style that links breath with movement, often in a flowing sequence of postures.
• Ashtanga Yoga: A physically demanding style that follows a set sequence of postures, each held for a specific number of breaths.
• Bikram Yoga: A style that involves a series of 26 postures and two breathing exercises, performed in a room heated to 105°F (40.6°C).
• Iyengar Yoga: A style that emphasizes precise alignment and the use of props, such as blocks and straps, to help students achieve correct form in postures.

Yoga is not just a physical practice, but also a meditative process of self-discovery and liberation. It is a diverse collection of practices that aims to control the mind, recognize a detached witness consciousness, and free oneself from the cycle of birth and death. Through yoga, we come to understand ourselves more clearly, to let go of anything that does not serve us, and to make choices that serve our highest good.