Yoga definition and meaning collins english dictionary. In a larger sense it refers to the integration of personality, and is the method of achieving union. The word yoga comes from the sanskrit root yuj, which means to join or to yoke. Yoga is the discipline of the mind, senses and physical body which helps in the coordination and control of the subtle forces within the body. Manah prasamanopayah yoga ityabhidhiyate yoga vasistha. As per yogic scriptures the practice of yoga leads to the union of.
One can savour the online version of this encyclopedia at. Yoga is one of the six astika orthodox schools of hindu philosophical traditions. Sounds, syllables, words or groups of words that are repeated with the goal of creating a positive transformation. In the practice of yoga we seek to create union between the mind and body 1. They may also have 10 different styles of yoga practice, because yoga is being labeled, branded and packaged in a myriad of ways to serve the products and people attached to it. No serious student of yoga can afford not to have this book. Definition of karma yoga do your duty to the best of your ability, o arjuna, with your mind attached to the lord, abandoning worry and selfish attachment to the results, and remaining calm in both success and failure.
People say recreational yoga, health yoga, people refer to it as an art form they think they are doing a service to yoga by saying it is an art form. Most say namaste as a means to thank the teacher or use as an expression of relief upon the ending of the class. The root meaning of yoga the word yoga is derived from the sanskrit word yuj which means to yoke, or to unify. The continued practice of yoga will lead you to a sense of peace and wellbeing, and also a feeling.
Yoga is a physical, mental and spiritual practice that originated in ancient india. According to yogic scriptures, the practice of yoga leads to the. The first meaning of yoga goes with the understanding of joining the individual consciousness jivatma with. Yoga classes are generally inexpensive, averaging around 10 dollars per class, and students can learn basic postures in just a few classes. Yoga exercise synonyms, yoga exercise pronunciation, yoga exercise translation, english dictionary definition of yoga exercise.
The term yoga comes from a sanskrit word which means yoke or union. The literal meaning of yoga is hidden in its sanskrit root yuj. A brief definition the word yoga is sanskrit for yoke, or union. The practice aims to create union between body, mind and spirit, as well as between the individual self and universal consciousness. Purpose the ultimate goal of yoga is moksha liberation through the exact definition of what form this takes depends on the philosophical or theological system with which it is conjugated. Yogapedia has one of the webs most comprehensive yoga dictionaries. Yoga exercise definition of yoga exercise by the free. Yoga techniques facilitate balance and health, and unfold our dormant potential.
Oct 02, 2012 now, i agree that yoga is great for your body and your health, but i had to giggle at how differently id learned the purpose and meaning of the sanskrit word yoga. Yoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in india. It is an exact science which aims at the harmonious development of the body, mind, and soul. When i refer to yoga in this article, im referring to classical yoga.
Because of this definition, to date, the most wellknown secondary source on jainism with yoga in the title, robert williamss jaina yoga, does not discuss yoga as it is commonly understood as a system of meditations and stretches, but instead focuses on medieval jain manuals discussions of temple worship, festivals, charitable. Yoga in daily life is a system of practice consisting of eight levels of development in the areas of physical, mental, social and spiritual health. The word, yoga, comes from the sanskrit yuj, which means to yoke and samadhi or concentration. The yoga sutras lays out eight limbs, or aspects, of practice which lead one to realise a state of yoga. To consider yoga as yogasanas and yogasanas as physical exercises is to work with limited if not wrong knowledge of yoga. The word yoga is derived from the sanskrit root yuj meaning to join, to yoke or to unite. According to the highest conception of indian philosophy of which yoga is an integral part, jivatma is a component or partial expression of the supreme soul or paramatma. Yoga appears to have benefits for increasing physical flexibility and reducing internal feelings of stress. From ha sun and tha moon, hatha yoga seeks to unify opposites body and mind and describes any of the physical practices of yoga. Traditionally, yoga is a method joining the individual self with the divine, universal spirit, or cosmic consciousness. Hathayoga forceful yoga a major branch of yoga, developed by goraksha and other adepts c. Yoga is a type of exercise in which you move your body into various positions in order to become more fit or flexible, to improve your breathing, and to relax your mind. A relaxing form of exercise that was developed in india and involves assuming and holding postures that stretch the limbs and muscles, doing breathing exercises, and using meditation techniques to calm the mind.
The practice of yoga leads to mental stability, equanimity, concentration, meditation, good health, supernatural powers, devotion, selftransformation and liberation. Two of the dictionaries i trust most are merriam webster and oxford. The first meaning of yoga goes with the understanding of joining the individual consciousness jivatma with the ultimate consciousness paramatma. Definition of yoga method for mental, physical, spiritual. Patanjali defined yoga as the cessation of the modifications of the mind. Yoga raises us to higher levels of freedom with total understanding of the mechanisms and laws of creation. Yoga is the perfect example of holistic health because of this combination of mind and body. More than just a glossary, each term page goes into further detail with insights, contextual examples and relevant resources. The definition of yoga in kundalini yoga is the union of the mental current ida and the pranic current pingala in the third eye ajna chakra or at the base chakra muladhara chakra. It is merely a glossary to begin helping you with terms you may come across. Jan 06, 2020 namaste is the common greeting in yoga. Rehabilitation definition of rehabilitation by merriamwebster. This sacred sanskrit text is a compilation of 196 aphorisms in four chapters which outlines the eight limbs of yoga offering wisdom and guidelines for living a. It is a gesture to send a message of peaceful spirituality to the universe in the hopes of receiving a positive message back.
This essay examines these interpretations in light of definitions of ha. Kundalini yoga is the science of liberating the dormant potential energy in the base of the spine kundalini. Diksha initiation the act and condition of induction into the hidden aspects of yoga. The moment you attach the word yoga, it indicates it is a complete path by itself. Krishnas ten definitions of yoga in the bhagavad gita. Yoga allows us to be more aware of ourselves and feel connected. Yoga is an ancient art based on a harmonizing system of development for the body, mind, and spirit. Yoga definition, a school of hindu philosophy advocating and prescribing a course of physical and mental disciplines for attaining liberation from the material world and union of the self with the supreme being or ultimate principle. At its most practical level yoga is a process of becoming more aware of who we are. The word yoga essentially means, that which brings you to reality. Physical and mental exercises are designed to help achieve this goal, also called selftranscendence or enlightenment.
In india, yoga has been studied and practiced for thousands of years, but its not the look of the physical body that is the main aim of yoga there. Yoga is the practical side of the vedic teachings while ayurveda is the healing side. Namaskar is the hindi word for namaste, from the root nam, to bow. The true meaning of yoga and why its not about asana. Thus, yoga is the practice that aims to join the mind, body and spirit. Such a union tends to neutralize egodriven thoughts and behaviours, creating a sense of spiritual awakening. Yoga means a state or condition, a technique, auspiciousness and union. Aug 31, 2016 classical yoga is a system of selfrealisation that was codified by patanjali sometime around 200 500 ad in a text called the yoga sutras.
Yogas chitta vritti nirodha yoga is the neutralization of the vortices of feeling. If you were to ask 10 yogis the question, what is yoga. Definitions of yoga science of awakening selfawareness. In practice, both of these paths overlap a great deal. Types of yoga this is a short guide to some of the more popular styles of yoga available in the uk. Although the tradition of yoga is 5,000 years old, it is mainly attributed to the sage patanjali as the father of yoga, who transcribed the book, the yoga sutra, over 2,000 years ago. Yoga definition is a hindu theistic philosophy teaching the suppression of all activity of body, mind, and will in order that the self may realize its distinction from them and attain liberation. The word yoga is derived from the sanskrit root yuj, meaning to yoke, or to unite. In modern cultures, however, namaste is taken to a new level of. It is not meant to be comprehensive or prescriptive. However, as my analysis shows individual and personal. Iyengar, definition of situation, meaning, symbolic.
Similarly, to use the terms yoga and meditation is like saying maths and arithmetic. Classical yoga has, as a part of its traditions, an aspect which addresses health and. Ashtanga this is a method in which a set series of poses is linked by vinyasa flowing movement and. Two of the dictionaries i trust most are merriamwebster and oxford. The shambala encyclopedia of yoga contains more than 2380 terms associated with yoga, terms spanning millenia of yoga history right from the vedas till the modern age. After all the body cannot exist without the mind and vice versa. Meaning and definition of the term yoga yoga asana scribd. Yoga is a type of exercise in which you move your body into various positions in order to. The term yoga is derived from the sanskrit root yuj, meaning to join or to yoke or to unite. Therefore, apart from asana and pranayama, one should practise moral and ethical values in life. Yoga is usually best learned from a yoga teacher or physical therapist, but yoga is simple enough that one can learn the basics from good books on the subject, which are plentiful. This unifies duality in us by connecting body and mind and leads to the awakening of spiritual consciousness.
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