| Yoga is a group of ancient practices which were first | | | | and the mind. In addition to this, it is a great way to |
| developed in India. It is still popular in the country | | | | stay physically fit. Many people who practice yoga |
| today, and is considered to be a spiritual exercise. | | | | view it as being a great way to improve their health |
| Many Indians see it as a way of attaining | | | | or enhance the function of their minds.The goal of |
| enlightenment. Yoga is broken down into four primary | | | | some yoga practitioners is to achieve what is called |
| categories, and these are Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, | | | | samadhi. Samadhi is a complex mental state where a |
| Karma Yoga, and Raja Yoga. However, these are | | | | person can achieve ecstasy. The goals of those who |
| only a few of the many variations of this exercise. | | | | practice yoga will vary based on their religion and |
| Yoga has become popular in the West, and is well | | | | background. Those who practice Hinduism believe |
| known because of its many postures.While yoga is | | | | that yoga is away of getting close to God. Buddhists |
| commonly seen as just being an exercise in the | | | | believe that yoga can help individuals achieve a |
| West, it is an important part of Buddhism, Hinduism, | | | | deeper level of wisdom. Western nations place an |
| and Jainism. For those who are followers of these | | | | importance on individualism, so many people in the |
| religions, yoga is not only seen as being an exercise, | | | | West will use yoga as a method for self |
| but is also a method that can be used to attain | | | | improvement.Yoga is a very ancient practice that |
| enlightenment. This practice has existed for | | | | places an emphasis on having full control over the |
| thousands of years, and has been mentioned in a | | | | body and the mind. Many people who use it believe |
| number of important Indian texts such as the | | | | that they will be able to gain insight into the |
| Upanishads and the Bhagavad Gita. Contemporary | | | | underlying structure of reality. The Yogi is a person |
| yoga is comprised of a number of different principles, | | | | who will attain an state of enlightenment where their |
| and many of these are taken from Indian | | | | thoughts will cease, and they will achieve a type of |
| religions.The purpose of the postures is to keep the | | | | union. Yoga is a very complex subject which can |
| body healthy and fit. Practitioners will often chant, | | | | mean different things for different people. Even if |
| and may perform breathing techniques as well. | | | | one does not wish to attain enligtenment, this |
| Meditation plays an important role in yoga, and many | | | | practice can allow them to enhance their own insight. |
| western yoga establishments present the practice in | | | | Even though yoga has strong connections to Indian |
| a way that can help those who don't practice | | | | religions, it is not a religion itself. Even though the |
| Hinduism. Many people in the West are attracted to | | | | exact age of this practice is not known, it is |
| yoga because of its ability to relax both the body | | | | estimated that it has existed for at least 6,000. |