Yoga is an ancient system of relaxation, exercise and healing with origins in Indian philosophy. Yoga has been described as "the union of mind, body, and spirit," which addresses physical, mental, intellectual, emotional and spiritual dimensions toward an overall harmonious state of being. In some types of yoga, the philosophy is sometimes pictured as a tree with eight branches, known as the 8 Limbs of Yoga. These limbs are:
- Pranayama (breathing exercises)
- Asana (physical postures)
- Yama (moral behavior)
- Niyama (healthy habit)
- Dharana (concentration)
- Pratyahara (sense withdrawal)
- Dhyana (contemplation)
- Samadhi (higher consciousness)
There are several types of yoga, including hatha yoga, karma yoga, bhakti yoga and raja yoga. These types vary in the proportions of the eight limbs. In the United States and Europe, hatha yoga is commonly practiced, including pranayama and asana.
Yoga is often practiced by healthy individuals with the aim to achieve relaxation, fitness and a healthy lifestyle. Yoga may be practiced alone, or with a group. . It is suggested the new yoga students find a teacher that is certified through the Yoga Alliance to be sure that they have had proper training.
The Yoga Alliance is the most highly recognized organization that offers certifications for yoga teachers throughout the world. They register both individual yoga teachers and yoga teacher training programs (schools) who have complied with minimum educational standards established by the organization.
Please visit www.yogaalliance.com to locate registered teachers and schools, or for general information about yoga.
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