what is yoga

Yoga is not only a physical exercise but also it is a spiritual process. It is an art of living. The real meaning of yoga is to add (plus). Action to connecting mind, body and soul mutually is called yoga. It is a practice to having control over mind and body.

Yoga is called Yog in Hindi. The meaning of yoga is nowadays being understood as physical workout. Physical exercise is not complete Yoga but it is a part of Yoga.

India is considered as father of yoga. However, Yoga had begun with the rise of human civilization. But Maharishi Patanjali did the work of threading it into one formula (Sutra). Patanjali was born on 220 BC in India. He introduced yoga in a simple language.  Patanjali's written compositions today have helped to spread yoga to the whole world.

The goal of yoga is to make all-around development of human beings. All-around development refers to the physical, mental, spiritual, moral, and social development of a human being.

It is said that the mind is fickle. It never stops, never tired. It always keeps thinking something. Any good and bad activities that a man does is due to his mind. Because what the man thinks leads to the same work. Yoga makes humans physically, mentally and spiritually healthy.

There are six organs of yoga in which Ashtanga is also one. Ashtanga has eight organs. These eight organs are Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharna, Dhyana and Samadhi. Adopting these eight organs of yoga is truly yoga. By adopting these eight organs of yoga, a man can be able to progress himself physically, mentally and spiritually.

Today, Baba Ramdev has contributed a lot in taking the whole world towards yoga. Considering the prevalence of yoga, The United Nations General Assembly declared June 21, 2015 as World Yoga Day, on the request of India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Since then, every year on 21 June is celebrated as World Yoga Day.