Yoga is a family of ancient spiritual practices that originated in India, where it remains a vibrant living tradition and is seen as a means to enlightenment. Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and Raja Yoga are considered the four main yogas, but there are many other types. In the West, yoga has become associated with the asanas (postures) of Hatha Yoga, which are popular as fitness exercises. Yoga as a means to enlightenment is central to Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and has influenced other religious and spiritual pr ...

Including:

• Yoga - Yoga practice and intention
• Yoga - The word yoga
• Yoga - Diversity of yoga
• Yoga - Yoga and religion
• Yoga - Common themes
• Yoga - Origins
• Yoga - Hindu yoga
• Yoga - Bhagavad Gita
• Yoga - Patanjali
• Yoga - God in Yoga philosophy
• Yoga - Hatha yoga
• Yoga - Natya yoga
• Yoga - Buddhist yoga
• Yoga - Yoga and tantra
• Yoga - Notable Yogis

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Purana:

Purana ("Ancient [History]"): a type of popular encyclopedia dealing with royal genealogy, cosmology, philosophy, and ritual; there are eighteen major and many more minor works of this nature

(See also: Purana, Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

Yoga: This is a system that integrates breathing, movement, energy and diet for optimum health. Yoga promotes the mind/body connection and involves meditation in order to achieve a sense of heightened awareness and peace. One of Yoga’s best known practices involves holding poses for minutes or far longer while meditating. It can help ease a variety of ailments, including reducing blood pressure and improving respiratory function.

(See also: Yoga, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Arhatic Yoga is a form of Yoga, developed and taught by Grand Master Choa Kok Sui, that synthesizes in a single discipline all the other paths of yoga. The goal of AY is the achievement of "Arhatship", or "Arhat" status. A good definition is the following: "The Arhat is the Perfected One who has overcome The Three Poisons of Desire, Hatred and Ignorance. At the end of the p ...

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Anusara yoga is a modern school of yoga started by John Friend in 1997; it is a hatha yoga with a Tantric philosophy. Friend continues to take an active role leading the expansion of the school and training (and certifying) teachers. The emphasis of the school is on a set of "universal" alignment principles all postures, "heart opening" postures and the spiritual/meditative benefits of hatha yoga. Attainable bliss and joy in practice and everyday life are an important aspect of the underlying philosophy of this school. Many western students ...

Including:

• Anusara Yoga - Opening Invocation

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Bikram Yoga was developed by Bikram Choudhury. He claims that his method is the only true hatha yoga practiced in the West. This claim is not accepted by many other schools. Bikram has designed a sequence of 26 yoga postures (or asana) and 2 breathing exercises that are performed in a heated room. The postures are vigorous and demand a lot from the students. The heated room, typically set around 95 - 105 degrees fahrenheit (35 - 40 degrees celsius) makes muscles more pliant and encourages sweating which acts as a purifier. The sweating also acts a ...

Including:

• Bikram Yoga - Intellectual property controversy
• Bikram Yoga - Bikram's Beginning Yoga Class

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Yoga Nidra, which literally means "sleep of the yogis", is used to prepare both mentally and physically prior to seeking deeper levels of consciousness and awareness through meditation. However Yoga Nidra is also regularly practiced on its own as a daily relaxation technique. Adherents claim that half an hour of Yoga Nidra can replace up to three hours of normal sleep, although its regular use as a sleep substitute is not recommended as the body and mind still ...

Including:

• Yoga Nidra - History
• Yoga Nidra - External link

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Jnana in Sanskrit means "knowledge", and is often interpreted to mean "knowledge of the true self". In the Vedanta school of the Hindu religion, to know Brahman as one's own Self is jnana. To say, "I am Brahman, the pure, all-pervading Consciousness, the non-enjoyer, non-doer and silent witness," is jnana. To behold the one Self everywhere is jnana. Jnana yoga is one of the four bas ...

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Karma yoga, or the "discipline of action" is based on the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, a holy scripture of Hinduism. One of the four pillars of yoga, Karma yoga focuses on the adherence to duty (dharma) while remaining detached from the reward. It states that one can attain Moksha (salvation) by doing his duties in an unselfish manner. Karma Yoga - Concept. The Bhagavad Gita is the dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna just before the battle of Mahabharata, a war between the virtuous Pan ...

Including:

• Karma Yoga - Concept
• Karma Yoga - References in Hindu Scriptures

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Kriya yoga is a system of Indian yoga that was first popularized in the West by Paramahansa Yogananda. The system consists of a number of yogic techniques that purportedly hasten the practitioner's spiritual evolution and help to bring about a profound state of tranquility and god-communion within one's own self. Kriya yoga - History. According to Paramahansa Yogananda's Autobiography of a Yogi, kriya yoga was well-known in ancient India, but was eventually lost. In 1861 however, the book con ...

Including:

• Kriya yoga - History
• Kriya yoga - Other lineages
• Kriya yoga - External link

Read more here: » Kriya yoga: Encyclopedia - Kriya yoga

Kundalini yoga is a meditative discipline, comprising a set of simple techniques that uses the mind, senses and body to create a communication between "mind" and "body". Kundalini yoga focuses on psycho-spiritual growth and the body's potential for maturation, giving special consideration to the role of the spine and the endocrine system in the understanding of yogic awakening (Sovatsky, 1998). Kundalini yoga - Kundalini yoga practice. The practice of kundalini yoga consists of a number bodily postur ...

Including:

• Kundalini yoga - Kundalini yoga practice
• Kundalini yoga - Underlying philosophy
• Kundalini yoga - Medical research on kundalini yoga

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Iyengar Yoga, created by B.K.S. Iyengar, is a form of yoga known for its use of props, such as belts and blocks, as aids in performing asanas. It is firmly based on the traditional eight limbs of yoga as expounded by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras, emphasizing the development of strength, stamina, flexibility and balance, as well as concentration (Dharana) and meditation (Dhyana). Iyengar Yoga is characterized by great attention to detail and precise focus on body alignment. Iyengar pioneered the use of "props" such as cushions, ...

Including:

• Iyengar Yoga - External link

Read more here: » Iyengar Yoga: Encyclopedia - Iyengar Yoga

The history of Yoga spans from four to eight thousand years ago to the current day. From hints of it's practice in pre-vedic times, the first elucidations and detailed elaborations in Hindu texts, absorption into Buddhist and Jain philisophies, upto it's modern suffusion into secular life, it's applicability has stood the test of time. History of Yoga - Pre-Vedic ca. 6000 - 3000 BCE [?]. Older findings are believed by some to show that "yoga" existed in some form well before the establishment of vedas in the India ...

Including:

• History of Yoga - Pre-Vedic ca. 6000 - 3000 BCE [?]
• History of Yoga - Vedic ca. 2000-1500 BCE
• History of Yoga - Upanishadic ca. 800-100 BCE
• History of Yoga - Bhagavad Gita
• History of Yoga - Classical - Patanjali's 'Yoga Sutras' ca. 200 CE
• History of Yoga - Yoga-bhasya 450 - 850 CE
• History of Yoga - Hatha Yoga Pradipika 1350 - 1400 CE
• History of Yoga - Today
• History of Yoga - Modern growth of yoga in the West

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Hatha yoga, pronounced /ˈhʌtə/ or /ˈhæθə/, is also known as Hatha vidya. It is a particular system of Yoga propagated by Swami Swatmarama, a yogic sage of the 15th century in India. It is part of the Hindu traditions of Yoga and Tantra, and is a path of spiritual realization leading to the ultimate goal of Raja Yoga, or contemplation of the One Reality. It is what most people associate with the word "Yoga" and is mainly practiced for mental, physical health and vitality outside of India. Hatha yoga - Origins. < ...

Including:

• Hatha yoga - Origins
• Hatha yoga - Concept
• Hatha yoga - Yama
• Hatha yoga - Asanas Postures
• Hatha yoga - Pranayama - The science of breathing
• Hatha yoga - General Directions for Yogasana
• Hatha yoga - Health Benefits ascribed to Yogasana practice
• Hatha yoga - Etymology
• Hatha yoga - In the West

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Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita Gita Go ...

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The short film 'Naked Yoga is an attempt to illustrate the practice of yoga in a natural setting. The purpose is to free the body and mind of restrictions, not to sexualise the practice. ( In San Francisco, courts found that George Monty Davis (aka "Naked Yoga Guy") is not committing a crime by practicing naked yoga in a public place.) Naked Yoga - Documentary released in 1974. The plot of this movie includes three young ladies performing yoga, sans clothes, in the open air of Cyprus. Another woman does the same in a studio. Th ...

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In Mysticism, a Nadi (plural: Nadis) is an energy channel in which prana energy flows and may connect chakras. It is not accepted by mainstream science. The main nadis include Shushumna, Ida and Pingala. Nadis are thought to carry a life force energy known as prana in Sanskrit, or qi in Chinese-based systems. They are also said to have an extrasensory function, playing a part in empathic and instinctive responses. Nadis are sometimes viewed as extending only to the skin of the body, but are of ...

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Sahaja Yoga (Sahaja meaning born with and Yoga meaning union) is a type of meditation and yoga. It is "a unique method of meditation based on an experience called self-realization (Kundalini awakening) that Sahaja Yogis believe occurs within each human being". The term Sahaja Yoga is also used to refer to the Sahaja Yoga International (Vishwa Nirmala Dharma movement) founded by Nirmala Shrivastava (also known by devotees as Shri Mataji) on 5 May 1970 based on this practice. Sahaja Yoga - Beliefs. ...

Including:

• Sahaja Yoga - Beliefs
• Sahaja Yoga - Sahaja Yoga in medicine
• Sahaja Yoga - Criticism

Read more here: » Sahaja Yoga: Encyclopedia - Sahaja Yoga

Books: Life Divine, Synthesis of Yoga, Savitri, The Mother, Letters, Agenda Teachings: Involution, Evolution Integral yoga, Triple transformation Physical, Vital, Mental, Psychic, Spirit Overmind, Supermind Sacred Structures: Matrimandir Communities:Including:

• The Synthesis of Yoga - History of the Book

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The Bihar School of Yoga is an entity founded by Swami Satyananda Saraswati in 1964 and is located in Munger (Bihar, India). It publishes a large range of books on behalf of Satyananda Yoga. See also. Bihar Yoga Bharati Paramahamsa Satyananda Swami Niranjanananda Swami Sivananda Yoga Nidra ...

Read more here: » Bihar School of Yoga: Encyclopedia - Bihar School of Yoga