Fast Links to About Yoga questions ...

What is Yoga?
Are there different styles of yoga?
Why practice yoga?
Who can practice yoga?
How does yoga work?
How is Healthy Life Yoga different?
What is the best way to learn about yoga?
What other resources are there on yoga?

About Yoga Main Page

The word yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root "yuj", which means to join, union or yoke. In essence, yoga represents the unity of body, mind, and spirit through concentration and movement. The main goal of yoga is to quiet the mind and connect with the deep peace within.

Yoga originated in India over 5,000 years ago as one of six core components of Indian philosophy. About 2,500 years later, a revered teacher Patanjali systemized yoga and comprised the Yoga Sutras, which consists of 196 brief lessons on yoga. The Yoga Sutras have been translated by many different authors since then, so a variety of commentaries on the Yoga Sutras are available.

Some people wonder if yoga is a religion. It's not. It's a systematic approach to controlling the mind and keeping the body healthy. In its simplest form, yoga is a physical and mental practice which supports our natural desire to improve our well-being.

<< Back ... to About Yoga main page.
>> Continue ... on to the different styles of yoga.