'Yoga' in Sanskrit means 'to unite'. Now days it is being said that "yoga is the new mantra for fitness and health." What is being referred as the 'Yoga' in English, is more commonly known as 'Asana' in Sanskrit, which means different physical postures and poses.



This is an age-old practice of meditation and it helps in keeping the mind calm and peaceful. All human beings undergo certain emotional waves like anxiety, stress, depression, ill health and anger. Yoga can well transform these emotional traits into peacefulness thus enabling an individual to enjoy good and vibrant health. It is nothing but the spiritual practice of uniting the body, soul and the spirit of the individual.



Yoga has its roots in India that originated more than three thousand five hundred years ago. It is believed to be a scientific system of practicing physical as well as mental well-being. With the help of yoga we can reach our highest potential, fulfill all our preset goals and thus experience a healthy, happy and a blissful life. Thus it helps us to enhance the quality of our lives.



Discipline and hard work should be the keynote of all the beginners of Yoga. It involves movement, breath, posture, relaxation and meditation in order to establish a healthy, lively and balanced approach to life. Thus, Yoga symbolizes balance and harmony in each and every area of our lives. During the ancient ages, the different Yoga postures and the breathing exercises were mainly practiced in order to bring about stability and relaxation; but in the modern scenario, it plays a significant role in maintaining a fine balance between work and healthy mind.

Yoga follows four main paths - the Karma, Bhakti, Jnana and the Raja Yoga. Each of these paths is related to different approaches to human life. But for the purpose of attaining true wisdom, the lessons of all these four paths of Yoga need to be integrated.



Karma Yoga - The Yoga of action

Karma Yoga is basically the path chosen by people who are extrovert by nature. It helps you to purify your heart and enables you to act selflessly, without any thought of gains or rewards. For the purpose of achieving this, it is necessary that you go on chanting a particular mantra at the time of doing any work.



Bhakti Yoga - the Path of Devotion or Divine Love

If you are an emotional person, then this is the path of Yoga that you find to be more appealing. It is the power of love, which chiefly motivates you people. The Bhakti Yogi completely devotes himself to God by following all kinds of rituals, chanting different prayers and worshipping him. Singing of hymns and chanting the praises of God constitutes a considerable part of Bhakti Yoga.



Jnana Yoga - the Yoga of Knowledge or Wisdom

Of all the four paths of Yoga, the Jnana Yoga is one of the most difficult paths to be followed. Intense will force and intellectual power is required to follow this particular path. Following the preaching of the Vedanta, the Jnana Yogi delves into his inner soul and finds out more about himself. It is with the help of Jnana Yoga that the Yogi can directly experience his unity with God. But it must however be noted that before taking up this particular path of Yoga, the person must go through the lessons of the other Yogic paths.



Raja Yoga - the Science of Physical and Mental Control

Raja Yoga is very often referred to as the "royal road". It offers its Yogis with a considerable effort to curb the physical as well as mental energies into spiritual energy. 'Ahtanga Yoga' is another name of Raja Yoga, which refers to the eight limbs leading to absolute mental control. Meditation is the keynote of Raja Yoga. Apart from meditation, this path of Yoga also includes some other methods that help us to rule over our body, energy, senses and mind. For the purpose of gaining control over the  physical body, Yogis mainly practice relaxation, which automatically brings both the body and energy under control.