The Nature and the Indian Roots of Yoga

Yoga has its beginnings in the ancient cultural heritage of India. In Sanskrit, the term yoga means to unite. Through yoga, a person may exercise moral and mental refinement in order to attain good health. Once the discipline deeply becomes a part of self, it eventually brings about positive and eternal happiness and peace. Yoga is the process of being one with the Supreme. The discipline of yoga has been compared to that of a ladder. It starts at the very bottom of the ladder and gradually rises up. This is linked with self-realization in spiritual life.

The central point of the practice of yoga is the mind and the control of it. Yoga attempts to pull a person away from his attachment to objects. Because of man's material existence, his pure soul is connected with the material world. In yoga, the mind is trained not to be won over by the attractions of material nature.

Some people misconceived the nature of yoga. They think that somehow, yoga is a practice of white or black magic, sorcery, and physical and mental debauchery. Yoga is a science and a way of life. It is all about self-culture and mental discipline. Regardless of race, sex, religion, and creed, everyone can practice yoga.

But how is yoga related to science? The health of the human body is dependent not only on the outer development of the body, but also on intrinsic organic health. Even in very early times, the practice of yoga was able to effect change on the science of the human body. For example, the yogic asanas enhances the circulation of blood in the body, while Pranayama decreased carbon dioxide content. Yoga helps in maintaining the cleanliness of the blood by getting rid of toxins. In this way, both the outer and inner cleanliness of the body is promoted.

While scientists may enlist the use of shower baths, air baths, and sun baths, yoga includes in its practice nasal cleaning, stomach washing, purging of the intestines, bladder, and sexual organs, and the clearing of impurities of the alimentary tract. Moreover, yoga exercises strengthen the nervous system. Yoga does not concern itself with every part of the anatomy. Its concentration is on the all-encompassing effect on both the physical and mental functions of the body.

The physical side of yoga discipline is accomplished through healing, strengthening, stretching, and relaxing the skeletal muscles, digestive, cardio-vascular, glandular, and nervous systems. By enhancement of a quiet and peaceful mind, increasing alertness and concentration, yoga enriches the mental state of the person. Finally, yoga prepares the person for meditation and thereby enriches his spiritual nature.

The practice of traditional yoga only has four main branches: Raja or self-control, Bhakti or devotional, Karma or service, and Jnana or scholar. Minor branches of yoga include the Kundalini and Tantra. However, the components of Raja yoga are the ones most popularly used in Western yoga. Most physical practice of yoga has something to do with the forms of Hatha yoga.