Yoga literally means ‘to unite with the self’ or ‘become one’.
The root word of yoga is ‘yu¡’, which means to yolk or go within the center.
In the simplest terms, yoga is a practice of uniting the body, thought, and breath for living in the present without ‘suffering’.
There are 3 fundamental components in the journey of yoga:
Asana – the practice of static and dynamic body movements to align and balance the physical components.
Prana – the practice of coordinating all body and mind activities with the breath.
Dhayana – the practice of focusing thoughts inward, awakening creative awareness, and relaxing the mind.
Yoga is an ancient art which gives a wealth of knowledge on how to exercise the mind and body to unlock the full human potential.
Asana practice is one way to achieve this. The practice of asanas challenges thought and breath patterns.
Regular practice of yoga unites the body, mind, and breath in a synchronous flow.
There are many other dimensions to the discipline of yoga, some of which include: spiritual undertakings, dietary rules, sound and mantra techniques, awareness of subtle energy levels, etc.
All these practices, including those discussed in this book, are aimed at bringing consciousness to a state of ‘awakened contentment’.
This book primarily emphasizes the physical aspects of the body - asana and prana.
Yoga is the mother of all physical exercises. It encompasses: flexibility, strength, balance, coordination, conditioning, cardiovascular training, visceral balancing, and mind-body fitness.
Asanas influence the nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, musculo-skeletal, endocrine, reproductive, and digestive systems.
The systems in the body work in a harmonious unit where a change in one system manifests a complimentary change in all others.
Photo Source: Yoga Poses, Postures & Yoga Exercises Book