yoga 101

yoga info 101
definition
"the Sanskrit name for a wide range of self-transformative disciplines originating in India some 5,000 years.
The word Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit root "yuj", i.e "to yoke" [to the spirit] meaning "union of the Individual Soul (Atman) with the Universal Soul (Brahman). Yoga embraces a wide range of disciplines whose ultimate goal is the joining of body, mind and spirit, a conscious unification into Oneness.
In the Western world, the most popular form is Hatha Yoga, (Sanskrit for "Union of Force"), a form of Yoga that stresses mastery of the physical body as a gateway to attaining spiritual perfection.
When incorporated into our daily lives, even in miniscule doses, yoga offers us multiple benefits. In our task-filled, busy days, yoga provides us a respite to energize our bodies and calm our minds. In fact, most people begin to see and feel improvements in their flexibility, strength and stress levels after only a few classes.
The major branches of Yoga are
Raja-Yoga (the royal path of meditation)
Karma-Yoga (the path of self-transcending action)
Bhakti-Yoga (the path of devotion)
Jnana-Yoga (the path of wisdom)
Tantra-Yoga (which includes Kundalini-Yoga)
Mantra-Yoga (the path of transformative sound)
Hatha-Yoga (the forceful path of physical cultivation)"