Yoga has eight steps for self-realization. Of these two are most important. These need to be mastered before heading towards the other six because without these the asanas will end up being just mere exercises to keep the body fit.

 The first two steps are called Yam and Niyam . These need to be followed internally for preparing oneself for the higher consciousness.

Read more here: » Yam and Niyam: Yoga For Self-Realisation

The sage Patanjali postulated an eight-fold system of spiritual yogic practice for achieving the divine goal. It comprises:

Yam - Controls, Niyam - Rules and regulations, Asan - Bodily Postures, Pranaayam - Breath Control Exercises, Pratyahaar - Sense control, Dharana - Concentration, Dhyaana - Meditation, Samadhi - Mergence

Read more here: » Patanjali Yoga: PatanjaliSystem Of Yoga

Practising yoga regularly imparts great benefits, which can be categorized under:

Basic spiritual benefits, Advanced spiritual benefits , Ultimate spiritual benefit, Discover your breath and Free your thoughts.

Read more here: » Yoga: Spiritual Benefits of Yoga

 In yoga, it is believed that when we seek permanent solutions to difficult and chronic problems then our actions should be holistic. Yoga helps us achieve a proper balance through monitoring our actions or deeds with our thoughts. This can be achieved by bringing a balance between our Achar and Vichaar , which are thoughts and deeds in conjunction with our Ahar and Vihar, i.e food and recreation.

Read more here: » Yoga: The importance of attitudes in yoga

Yog means union. Union with a supreme power which is the source of creation, perfection and destruction. Union with the supreme intellect and the guiding force behind the perfect mechanism of the universe. Yoga is merging oneself with this force that guides the human being to a state of total bliss. A human being is a small universe in itself. When the consciousness of this small universe unites with the energy prevailing in the vast canopy of the universe the union is complete and the light of wisdom starts flowing in the human body.

Read more here: » Yoga - Beyond The Body And Mind

 ÒMudraÓ simply means hand and finger postures. Like yogic body postures, it is also a discipline, to rejuvenate the body.

You must have seen the statues of Buddha, Jesus, Mahavir, and Shiva et al among many others, wherein the hands and fingers are shown curled in a specific posture.

Read more here: » Mudras: Understanding Mudras

 When you first begin to practice yoga, the mind, like a child runs in different directions. For a while you may be able to stabilise your mind but the thoughts invariably get scattered.

 It is at this stage that you have to exercise conscious control and practice the art of ÒpratyahaarÓ. There are some practitioners who can control and bring the mind quickly to focus without much effort due to an inner state of calmness.

Read more here: » Pratyahaar: The Beginning Stage of Yoga

A yogic dictionary including desriptions of Matsyasana, Paschimottanasana, Halasana, Sarvangasana, Oordhva-Padmasana, Sirshasana, Siddhasana and Padmasana.

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Yogic Exercises: Asanas and Yogic Exercises

The term - yoga, for many, means physical postures, and that too twisted, impossible ones. But that is not what we are referring to as yoga.

Yoga means to be in perfect tune. Your body, mind, spirit and existence are in absolute harmony. When you fine-tune yourself to such a point where everything functions beautifully within you, the best of your abilities will just flow out of you.

Read more here: » Spiritual Energy: Unlock Your Energy With True Yoga

 The word "yoga" often brings to mind a classroom of students attired in exercise clothing attempting to stretch their bodies into different postures. A more traditional yoga class will even include instruction in breathing techniques, concentration, meditation, and positive thinking. In the media today, yoga is often associated with health benefits such as stress reduction, lower blood pressure, and an overall decrease in illness and hospitalization rates. This is the Western idea of yoga. If we look to the Eastern approach, where yoga is a part of the great Hindu and Buddhist traditions, we find that yoga is all of these things but much, much more as well.

Read more here: » Yoga: Serve, Love, Meditate, Realize - The Inner Teachings of Yoga

Some brilliant, very effective and simple mudras, which you can practice anytime and anywhere. Mudras is the art of hand posture and finger posture.

Read more here: » Mudras: Different Mudra postures

While in recent years the word "yoga" has been heard more in gyms than in religious discourse, "yoga" in its original sense has little to do with exercise. "Yoga" comes from the Sanskrit verb yuj, to yoke or unite. The goal of yoga is to unite oneself with God; the practice of yoga is the path we take to accomplish this.

Read more here: » Yoga: The Meaning of Yoga

 Brahmacharya is the vow of celibacy in thought, word and deed, by which one attains Self-realisation or reaches Brahman. It means control of not only the reproductive Indriya but also control of all senses in thought, word and deed

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Brahmacharya: Importance of Brahmacharya - Yoga and Sex

An introduction to Yoga Sadhana.

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Yoga Sadhana: Introduction to Yoga Sadhana

Ethics as a Means to Yoga.

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Yoga: Yoga of Right Conduct

About the mind and how the mind can be controlled.

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Mind Control: Mind, Its Mysteries and Control

An introduction to Vedanta.

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Vedanta: Introduction to Vedanta

A full introduction to the practise of meditation.

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Meditation: Practice of Meditation

 Instructions on Meditation.

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Meditation: Special Instructions on Meditation

Twenty Important Spiritual Instructions by H.H. Sri Swami Sivanandaji Maharaj.

From "Easy Steps to Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Twenty Important Spiritual Instructions