Yoga Overview

Yoga originated over 5,000 years ago in Northern India as a holistic discipline to develop on the path toward spiritual enlightenment, also known as spiritual liberation. The word ‘yoga’ comes from the Sanskrit root verb ‘yuj,’ which means to ‘yoke,’ ‘join,’ or ‘unite.’ Ultimately, the goal of yoga is union--union of an individual’s mind, body, and spirit; union of individual beings with each other spiritually; and union of all beings with the Source of Creation (also referred to as Universal Consciousness or the Divine) as one.

Yoga itself is not a religion, though it is one of the main schools of philosophy in Hinduism, and yoga practices are a large component of Buddhism. Yoga does not enforce strict, limited beliefs, but rather, it offers many different paths and encourages you to choose your own adventure. While not a religion, a core philosophical tenet of yoga is the belief that all life is derived from a Divine Source of Creation which exists uniformly within all beings. We are all, in this sense, divine beings--the divine that exists within you and represents your truest nature is the same as the divine in all existence, and all existence is one with the Divine Source of Creation. However, yoga offers much freedom in how you wish to view this Source, whether it is tied to a specific religion, belief system, or spirituality in general. In this way, you are encouraged to tailor the practices to suit your needs and what resonates with you most.

In essence, yoga encapsulates both the practices aimed toward and the state of liberation from the illusion of separation in the physical, manifest world--the realization and remembering of the individual self as part of and one and the same as the ‘capital S’ Self considered to be pure Spirit, which exists infinitely beyond the confines of time and space. Thus, yoga is both the process and state of Self-realization.

It is important to note that this journey of Self-realization is something that takes significant time and dedicated practice, and it is believed that it requires many lifetimes of developing your soul to merge with its true divine nature. While you may experience moments of tapping into universal connection and oneness and even reach a state of Self-realization at times, the main focus of any yoga practice is reminding oneself of our interconnectedness in times of separation, developing the soul, and recognizing the importance of being present throughout the journey itself rather than focusing on the ultimate goal.

Additionally, the process and goal of Self-realization is inherently both individual and collective. While it is an individual’s responsibility to develop their own soul, yoga is about pursuing this path for the benefit of all existence across time and space. This is where Dharma comes in, which has multiple meanings--Dharma means both the universal law of existence, as well as an individual’s personal soul purpose or innate potential. Yoga practices facilitate discovery of one’s Dharma, and in pursuing your Dharma for the benefit of all beings, the soul further develops on the path toward spiritual liberation and union.

To learn more about the origins and practices of yoga, click here. To learn more about the benefits of yoga, click here.