The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit root yug meaning to attach, join, yoke, or connect. Yoga can also mean "to attain what was previously unattainable," or "to cause change." For example, consider the farmer who has both an ox and a plow but no way to join the two. Alone neither can create the desired change. Only after the yoke is placed on the ox and the plow is connected can the farmer begin to till his soil. In this case, it is the joining, or yoga, of the ox and plow that enables the farmer to attain something that was previously unattainable. The teachings of yoga would refer to the joining of ox and plow as much more that just a connection. Rather, this relationship is referred to as "union." In essence, the word yoga connotes a mystical state of union: Singularity.

The practice of living yoga is much like the scenario of the farmer. By simply agreeing to practice a few postures you are already living yoga. In this case you have made a connection that will inevitably cause change. Perhaps after a short session you can breathe easier, you feel taller or you're just more relaxed. You are moving into the deeper stages of yoga. The mere fact that you noticed a shift in your breathing implies you have made another important connection, this time between your body and mind. In yoga it is said that breathing is what links the body and mind. Simply put, breathing is yoga.

When your breathing is smooth, your mind is calm, and your body becomes free of tension. In yoga, we use conscious breathing to create awareness of how the various aspects of our body/mind interact. When all of these aspects are in harmony there is a sense of wholeness and a feeling of connection. This gives rise to the dynamic state of simply Being.

Language of the Gods

Many of the words we use in yoga--such as asana (pose) or prana (life force)-- come from ancient texts written in Sanskrit. Oftentimes these words represent ideas and principles that do not easily translate to English or other Western languages. Although the exact age of Sanskrit is still uncertain, scholars speculate that Sanskrit may in fact be one of the world's oldest languages. Sanskrit is called "Devanagari," the language of the gods, and many people believe that speaking or chanting this sacred language opens the door to higher consciousness.

The Roots

To get a clearer view of what yoga is and where it is going, let's take a look at its mysterious history. Among teachers and students it is commonly believed that the practice of yoga is over 5000 years old. Historically, the teachings of yoga have been passed orally from teacher to student, often with little or no textual documentation, making it difficult for scholars to ascertain the exact age of yoga.

What we do know is that yoga originated in India as one of the six orthodox systems of philosophy collectively known as darshana. As one of the darshana, the teachings of yoga are deeply rooted in Vedic scriptures, the oldest and most venerated record of Indian culture. Since yoga evolved in the context of Hinduism, it is imbued with the flavor of Hindu symbols and mythology. Many yoga postures are named after Hindu gods or mythological heroes. However, yoga is not a religion. Yoga is the art and science of how to fully live. In yoga, emphasis is placed on experimentation and personal discovery. Even though yoga is associated with certain traditions and metaphysical notions, the practice of yoga does not ask you to believe in anything you have not experienced yourself. In fact, the only prerequisite for practicing yoga is a yearning for growth and a spirit for adventure.

The Ancient Yogis Were Just Like You

Like many of us, the forefathers of yoga were explorers in search of the secrets of a healthy, happy life. These sages did not set out to put themselves in pretzel poses or stand on their head. Rather, they were fueled by the idea that life has something deeper and more meaningful to offer. While sitting for long hours in meditation, the sages quickly realized that exploration is not easy--particularly on the spine, knees and ankles--and a strong, supple body and sharp mental focus would be necessary to make the journey. The complex system of exercises and techniques we now call hatha yoga was born from this need. It's to say that all the stretching and moving you do in yoga was originally designed to help you sit still and focus your attention inward.

Intense and methodical investigation into one's mind is Yoga. - Nisargadatta Maharaj

Through the centuries, yogis looked within themselves to find the answers to life's questions. They explored new territory and experimented with new techniques. Most importantly they passed their discoveries on to others. Around the second century BCE, an Indian sage named Patanjali systematized and recorded the developing science of yoga in the famous Yoga Sutra; often referred to as the heart of yoga. The Yoga Sutra is composed of 195 aphorisms that lay the foundation for a deep and meaningful practice of yoga. Above all, the Yoga Sutra addresses the subtle issues of the human mind, moral integrity and inner stillness. The text alludes to the ultimate goal of yoga as realization of Innate Unity.

Interestingly, the Yoga Sutra mentions no physical yoga poses other than the seated meditation posture. Not until centuries later would a text be written about the physical aspects of yoga. Even then, such classical texts as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (fourteenth century) and the Gheranda Samhita (seventeenth century) only make reference to a handful of physical postures. In the yoga community, legends tell of other influential texts such as the Yoga Korunta (allegedly inscribed on palm leaves) and the Yoga Rahasya, that are said to have been lost or destroyed over time.

In the mid-1980's a yoga scholar named Norman Sjoman made a discovery that would shed new light on the obscure history of yoga. While doing research in the private library of the Maharaja of Mysore (at the Mysore Palace in India), Sjoman happened upon a yoga manual from the 1800's called the Sritattvanidhi. The Sritattvanidhi contains elaborate instructions for and illustrations of 122 physical yoga postures--making it the most detailed text on the yoga postures written before the twentieth century. Reportedly, the text is written by a Mysore prince of the same royal family that would, a century later, join forces with the modern yoga master, T. Krishnamachariya and his world-famous students, B.K.S. Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois , and T.K.V. Desikachar (respectively, the originators of Iyengar Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, and Viniyoga, three of today's most commonly practiced styles of yoga).

Yoga made its way to the United States in 1893 when Swami Vivekananda, a disciple of the Indian sage Ramakrishna, arrived at the World Fair in Chicago to present a talk on the philosophy of yoga. This auspicious meeting of East and West denotes the inception of the American yoga movement. By the early 1900's yoga centers were popping up in numerous U.S. cities, and several other Indian yogis had already landed on American soil--among them was Paramahansa Yogananda, author of the world-renowned book, Autobiography of a Yogi.

Some Well Known Yoga Masters, Branches & Styles

• Baba Hari Das (Mt. Madonna Center, Classical Yoga)
• Paramahansa Yogaananda (Self Realization Fellowship, Kriya Yoga)
  
• Swami Sivananda Saraswati (Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers)
  
• Swami Satchidananda (Integral Yoga)
  
• Swami Kripalvananda/Yogi Amrit Desai (Kripalu Yoga)
• Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (Transcendental Meditation)
  
• Krishnamacharaya (Ashtanga, Iyengar, & Viniyoga)
  
• Swami Muktananda (Siddha Yoga)
  
• Ramakrishna (Vedanta Centers, Guru of Swami Vivekananda)
  
• Yogi Bhajan (Kundalini Yoga, 3HO Foundation)
  
• Buddhist Siddha Yogis (Tibetan Tantric Yoga)
  
• Shankara (Himalayan Institute, Guru of Swami Rama)

Many Rivers, One Ocean: The Yogic Paths of Awakening

Each season a mystical journey begins high on the mountaintops of every continent. Pregnant clouds travel there from distant lands, compelled by the magnetic pull of mighty peaks. When the conditions are just right, the clouds release their waters into the outstretched arms of Mother Earth. Sometimes snow, sometimes rain; the droplets of water begin their long journey back to source. Each droplet of water is made of the same atoms, yet none will take the same route back to the ocean. Some will flow in mighty rivers. Others will move slowly as glaciers and snow banks. Still others will travel underground, springing forth now and again. In time, each droplet will find its way to a bigger body of water, at a lower point of elevation.

As a yoga student, you have much more in common with a droplet of water than you might think. Like water, you are constructed of the same atoms as all the others of your kind. Like droplets of water, no two people will flow the same way through life. The ancient sages of India understood this basic truth with utmost clarity. They understood that on the spiritual path there is no perfect method that suits everyone. Instead, each person must find their own way. Each person is encouraged to find the path that makes best use of their natural tendencies and disposition. In this line of thinking, yoga becomes an art and a science validated only by the personal experience of the practitioner.

Some of the traditional paths of yoga are: Hatha, Bhakti, Jnana, Karma, Tantra, and Raja:

Hatha Yoga - The yoga of uniting opposing forces. Includes shat karma, asana, pranayama, mudra, bandha, mantra and meditation. Hatha Yoga literally means "to strike with force," or "to unite sun and moon". The metaphysics of Hatha Yoga are tantric in nature and reflect an understanding of reality largely based on the philosophy of Sankya.

Bhakti Yoga - The yoga of devotion and surrender. Includes mantra, visualization, prayer, puja, kirtan, and development of emotional intensity to increase love for God/Goddess.

Jnana Yoga - The yoga of wisdom, contemplation and self-enquiry. Involves relentless self-honesty, releasing of all concepts and beliefs, and the direct realization of Naked Awareness as the true nature of mind.

Karma Yoga - The yoga of selfless action, and work for the welfare of all beings. Involves working without expectation for return, and without attachment to the fruits of work. Karma Yoga sees action, in-and-of-itself, as Freedom. When the "doer" takes no credit for the doing all is fulfilled.

Tantra Yoga - The yoga of transformation, ritual, and worship of the union of God/Goddess. Involves raising all of life's activities to a status of sacredness. Tantra embraces everything as an opportunity to awaken, and sees all creation as Shakti dancing her cosmic dance in a field of luminous awareness (Shiva).

Raja Yoga - The path of meditation. Literally means the "Royal Path" or the "King's Path". Involves various methods of intense concentration and seated meditation.

Think about these paths of yoga. What elements do you naturally feel drawn toward? Which path, or paths, do you feel could help utilize your strengths, while safeguarding you from falling prey to your weaknesses and tendencies? This contemplation requires real self-honesty!

Yoga in the Era of Endless Possibilities

There have always been countless ways to practice yoga. You can behold this generation's incarnates by visiting any one of the growing number of yoga centers throughout the world. From Karma Yoga (the practice of yoga as service) to Power Yoga (an intense physical practice) there exists an overwhelming gamut called "yoga." One school offers spiritual enlightenment, while another shows you how to put your foot behind your head. The fitness industry is hot on yoga. Celebrities are doing yoga. Doctors are recommending yoga for their patients. Outwardly yoga is taking many shapes. Western culture has embraced yoga, and the possibilities are endless.

However, as the limelight shines on yoga it yields a spectrum of mixed messages. We see yogis in car ads on billboards, Hindu gods on women's mini skirts, and flashes of yoga throughout the popular culture media. The energy surrounding yoga is exciting, yet these images can be misleading.

It comes as no surprise that as yoga enters the Western main stream it becomes adorned with ornaments of our material culture. Unlike their Indian predecessors, modern yogis wear spandex and nail polish, and practice postures on thin purple mats. Yet, loincloth or leotard, yogis are united by a common thread that transcends time, culture and style: a sincere yearning to touch the deepest Source of life.

As you continue to explore the practice of yoga, I invite you to honor this ancient thread by doing what yogis have done since time immeasurable--surrender to your heart's wisdom, again, and again...and allow yourself to be silently pulled toward the source of your Being. Breathe, feel, experiment, and innovate. Find the courage to be authentic in all your endeavors, and live every moment to the fullest.