[Laurence58]

Yoga is a scientifically designed combination of physical, mental and breathing exercises aimed at physical endurance and flexibility, clarity of thought and spiritual fulfillment. The system of yoga is developed in India over many centuries before B.C. 3000. Yoga practicing includes controlling external and internal physical activity, breathing and thoughts and focusing all those energies towards a pre-defined goal. The goal can be freedom from a physical or mental ailment, Ayurvedic Treatments or ultimate salvation of soul from the cycle of birth and death – moksha. The word yoga means ‘union’. Yoga is the union of mind and body, and mind and soul. The union of mind and body is attained through a combination of yoga postures called asana. Here the physical activities are controlled and the mind is brought to a single point. From this point, a yogi can attain deep enlightenment about his or her own existence and purpose of life, which is the path to spiritual salvation.

The Divisions of Yoga: Yoga has eight limbs. Eight limbed yoga is called ashtanga yoga (ashtam means eight and angam means an organ, a limb). The eight limbs of yoga are

1. Yama – don’ts
2. Niyama – do’s
3. Asanas - postures
4. Pranayama – control of breathing
5. Pratyahara – freedom from senses
6. Dharana – self awareness, concentration
7. Dhyana – meditation
8. Samadhi – super conscious state achieved through deep meditation

Only a few limbs of yoga are familiar with average people. You can find many people who believe yoga is only a set of exercise where people put their body in strange poses with stranger names. The truth is yoga is a systematic system of leading well defined lives free from worries, diseases etc and a march towards the ultimate goal as a human being.

Types of Yoga: Yoga is also of many different types, the main among them are Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga. Each of them is interwoven and there is no clear distinction line to separate different types of yoga.

Conflicts and Skepticism: All the concepts of yoga are not easily digested. There are conflicts in thought regarding spirit, salvation and enlightenment. The so called scientifically thinking persons are people who voice against yoga. The truth is scientific findings are true till someone proves it untrue. Scientific findings start as visionary in the minds of researchers. The electric bulb was first born in the mind of Thomas Edison, not in his laboratory. He first gave mental shape to his finding and his untiring efforts pushed open the knowledge of right combination of materials and factors, which humankind today enjoys. The concepts of yoga are not born in any laboratory, but in the minds of many hundreds or even thousands of yogis. The physical form is visible in the form of specific advantages people get in the form of freedom from physical pains, mental worries and lack of motivation in life