Comprehensive Article on Yoga: Benefits, Practices & Tips

“Yoga is a lifestyle”. This sentence has become the simplest definition and expression of what Yoga is. From the villages of India to the sprawling modern spaces of Europe and America, Yog or Yoga is one of the most popular practices that transcend the boundaries of culture and geography. Yet, beyond the aforementioned line, not much is actually known about Yoga, its practice, and its philosophy in the popular sphere. Then how can we know what exactly is Yoga? Thankfully, the solution to this conundrum was formulated centuries ago. In ancient India, a Maharishi (great sage) by the name of Patanjali compiled the philosophy of Yoga in “sutras”, literally “threads”, or short formulations in Sanskrit, which contain the oceanic knowledge of Yoga.

The ancient practice of yoga is a beautiful tree that has branched out to different parts of the world. Whenever we talk about yoga, mentioning the yoga sutras is inevitable. They are quite popular among yoga practitioners and are the oldest known texts on the subject. The yoga sutras are Sanskrit texts compiled around 500 BCE by Patanjali. They are considered to be a manual for yoga based on practices followed by yogis of that era. Information on yoga was scattered throughout different texts and was beyond the comprehension of the common folk, so Patanjali compiled it into simplified yoga sutras, making them easy to understand by all.

The guidance of a guru is often emphasized by dedicated practitioners as the optimal way to learn yoga. Each of us is a unique individual with specific circumstances, and a guru provides a personalized touch that is absent in mass classroom teaching. By analyzing your current state, a guru tailors a personalized discipline for your transformative journey. They identify the obstacles holding you back and prioritize working on those areas.

Hindu literature contains texts such as Yoga-Vasishtha of Valmiki, Yogayajnavalkya Samhita, Yoga-Upanishads, and numerous commentaries and translations of these books which hold the wisdom of Yoga in their pages. The emphasis of these Hindu texts on spiritual upliftment and withdrawal from the external world is not meant to instill disdain towards the world, albeit these Yogic practices and ideas are formulated to make a human being a valuable member of their society. A true yogi can perform all the actions as “Karma Yoga”, all the while being in a state of complete oneness with the supreme reality. In modern thought, Yoga is seen as an Indian way of life based around postures (Aasanas) and breathing exercises (Pranayama) which help one in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This image, however, is in no way a true and complete definition of the place of Yoga in Hinduism.

Today, Yoga has a worldwide following and has become a household word. Some 300 million people practice Yoga in the world, with close to 40 million in the US alone. As it entered the popular consciousness worldwide, the ancient practices of Yoga have undergone significant changes. Yoga’s moorings in deep philosophical insight, and grounding as an indispensable aid in living a Dharmic life, has perhaps receded into the background. It is not widely known that bahiranga yoga is only a small part of the Yoga Sutra text, which deals with understanding the ‘self’ (one’s limited identity and personhood) referred to antaranga yoga, and transcending the self to realize the “Self” known as parama antaranga yoga, in far more detail.

"...'When an individual is firmly established in non-violence (ahimsa), all beings who come near him also cease to be hostile'... Patanjali is the author of the de facto text of yoga - 'The Yoga Sutra.'... Patanjali's scripture not only provides yoga with a thorough and consistent philosophical basis, but in the process, also clarifies many important esoteric concepts (like karma), common to all traditions of Indian thought... Patanjali's is a far-sighted vision of universal humanity... The desire not to harm others is an essential ingredient in cultivating a mental state recognizing the essential unity underlying all living beings, leading towards ultimate mystical union, envisaged as the final goal of yoga..."

"Human nature is like a chariot yoked to a team of powerful horses. One of them is prana (breath), the other is vasana (desire)...the yogi masters the science of breath and by the regulation and control of breath, he controls the mind and stills its constant movement...Yoga is one of the most ancient spiritual concepts of East, and despite a philosophical look it has an equally significant physical basis...Yoga is a collection of simple practices...consisting of action, method and technique...the method by which the restless mind is calmed and the energy directed into constructive channels"