The Basics: A Meaning & History of Yoga

The literal translation of Yoga is, "to unite" or "to yoke." When you practice yoga, you do so to unite your body, mind and spirit in order to achieve a higher level of balance and awareness.

Yoga originated in India over 5000 years ago and was originally passed from a Master to his student in a verbal fashion--there were no texts in the beginning and the practice did not see women join the ranks until the early 1940's.

Also, as an interesting piece of trivia, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau are thought to be the first Americans to really introduce yoga to the Western world.

There are Six Branches of Yoga

1. Jnana--Self-Study to Build Wisdom
2. Bhakti--Practice of Devotion
3. Karma--Focus on Service
4. Raja--Practice of Control
5. Tantra--Ritualistic Rites of Passage
6. Hatha--Physical Practice Focusing on the Balance of Effort & Ease

There are many styles of Hatha Yoga practiced in the United States and throughout the world.

Some of the most popular are:

• Ashtanga--Think Sun Salutations or Vinyasa (flow) Style Yoga
• Bikram--26 Specific Poses Are Practiced In A Hot, Humid Room
• Iyengar--Constantly Working on Alignment & Helping The Individual Achieve the Pose
• Kundalini--Lots of Chakra Work to "Uncoil The Spirit" & a Focus on Breath

I personally practice FYB (Feel Your Best) yoga which is an "eclectic blend of different Hatha Yoga styles" with a focus on "the PERSON and not the pose."