"Yoga ( ; Sanskrit: योग, lit. 'yoke' or 'union' pronounced [joːɡɐ]) is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India..."
Overview of yoga and meditation practices within Hinduism.
History of Yoga: This covers the origins of Yoga and its evolution over time, including the different types of Yoga that exist.
Hindu philosophy: This covers the broader philosophical ideas that underpin Hinduism, including concepts such as karma, dharma, and moksha.
Asanas: These are physical postures that are commonly used in Yoga practice to promote physical and mental health.
Breathing exercises: Breathing exercises, or pranayama, are used in Yoga practice to control and regulate the breath, which can have positive effects on both physical and mental health.
Meditation techniques: Meditation is a core component of Yoga practice, and there are many different techniques that can be used to achieve a meditative state.
Chakras: These are energy centers in the body that are said to be linked to different organs and systems. Understanding and working with the chakras is an important aspect of some forms of Yoga practice.
Mantras: Mantras are sacred phrases or sounds that are repeated during meditation to help focus the mind and promote spiritual growth.
Ayurveda: Ayurveda is a traditional Indian system of medicine that is sometimes used in conjunction with Yoga practice to promote overall health and well-being.
Yoga nidra: Yoga nidra is a form of guided meditation that is often used for relaxation and stress relief.
Tantra: Tantra is a complex and often misunderstood aspect of Hinduism that can involve the use of rituals, symbols, and practices to achieve spiritual enlightenment.
Hatha Yoga: It is a physical practice that emphasizes bodily postures, known as asanas, and breath control techniques, known as pranayama.
Raja Yoga: It is a spiritual discipline that emphasizes meditation, moral and ethical principles, introspection, and self-discipline.
Karma Yoga: It is the path of selfless action and service.
Bhakti Yoga: It is a path of love, devotion, and surrender to God or a higher power.
Jnana Yoga: It is a path of knowledge and wisdom.
Kundalini Yoga: It is a spiritual practice that aims to awaken the dormant energy center situated at the base of the spine.
Tantra Yoga: It is a practice that seeks to unite polar opposites, such as the masculine and feminine aspects of existence, in order to achieve spiritual growth and self-awareness.
Mantra Yoga: It is a practice that involves the repetition of sacred words or phrases to achieve a meditative state and spiritual awakening.
Laya Yoga: It is a practice that uses sound, breath, and meditation to awaken the dormant energy within the body.
Vinyasa Yoga: It is a dynamic practice that emphasizes the flow of movement synchronized with breath.
Iyengar Yoga: It is a style of Hatha Yoga that emphasizes proper alignment and the use of props.
Ashtanga Yoga: It is a style of Yoga that involves a series of predetermined postures performed in a set sequence.
Transcendental Meditation: It is a technique that involves the use of a specific sound or mantra to achieve deep relaxation and transcendental awareness.
Vipassana Meditation: It is a mindfulness practice that involves the observation of bodily sensations, thoughts, and emotions to achieve insight and self-awareness.
Loving-Kindness Meditation: It is a practice that involves the cultivation of love and compassion towards oneself and others.
"...aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consciousness untouched by the mind (Chitta) and mundane suffering (Duḥkha)."
"Yoga-like practices were first mentioned in the ancient Hindu text known as Rigveda. Yoga is referred to in a number of the Upanishads."
"The first known appearance of the word 'yoga' with the same meaning as the modern term is in the Katha Upanishad, which was probably composed between the fifth and third centuries BCE."
"Yoga continued to develop as a systematic study and practice during the fifth and sixth centuries BCE in ancient India's ascetic and Śramaṇa movements."
"The most comprehensive text on Yoga, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, date to the early centuries of the Common Era; Yoga philosophy became known as one of the six orthodox philosophical schools (Darśanas) of Hinduism in the second half of the first millennium CE."
"Hatha yoga texts began to emerge between the ninth and 11th centuries, originating in tantra."
"Two general theories exist on the origins of yoga. The linear model holds that yoga originated in the Vedic period, as reflected in the Vedic textual corpus, and influenced Buddhism. According to the synthesis model, yoga is a synthesis of non-Vedic and Vedic elements."
"The term 'yoga' in the Western world often denotes a modern form of Hatha yoga and a posture-based physical fitness, stress-relief and relaxation technique, consisting largely of asanas; this differs from traditional yoga, which focuses on meditation and release from worldly attachments."
"It was introduced by gurus from India after the success of Swami Vivekananda's adaptation of yoga without asanas in the late 19th and early 20th centuries."
"Vivekananda introduced the Yoga Sutras to the West, and they became prominent after the 20th-century success of hatha yoga."
"Yoga ( ; Sanskrit: योग, lit. 'yoke' or 'union' pronounced [joːɡɐ])"
"Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines."
"...aim to control (yoke) and still the mind, recognizing a detached witness-consciousness untouched by the mind (Chitta) and mundane suffering (Duḥkha)."
"There is a wide variety of schools of yoga, practices, and goals in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism..."
"Yoga-like practices were first mentioned in the ancient Hindu text known as Rigveda."
"Yoga continued to develop as a systematic study and practice during the fifth and sixth centuries BCE in ancient India's ascetic and Śramaṇa movements."
"The most comprehensive text on Yoga, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, date to the early centuries of the Common Era."
"The term 'yoga' in the Western world often denotes a modern form of Hatha yoga and a posture-based physical fitness, stress-relief and relaxation technique, consisting largely of asanas."
"It was introduced by gurus from India after the success of Swami Vivekananda's adaptation of yoga without asanas in the late 19th and early 20th centuries."