“Yoga” was born in India around 5000 years ago. The word yoga literally means “union”, which highlights the fundamental idea of yoga: the union of body, mind and spirit.
Yoga is not so much a religion or a philosophy, it is physical, mental and spiritual discipline, designed to promote health, balance, peace of mind and a deeper inner awareness. Ultimately, this deeper connection with ourselves manifests into a deeper connection with others.
Yoga is a vast subject, and many different approaches, styles and sub-branches of yoga have developed over the years. Some of the principal current practices include: Hatha yoga (which through the body helps develop present moment awareness), Kundalini yoga (focusing on the circulation of energy in the body), Karma yoga (detachment from the fruit of our actions), and Bakti yoga (devotional practice). There are also many others.