Though yoga is often associated with Hinduism, it is quite a bit older. Yoga is believed to be at least 5,000 years old, with the earliest evidence of yoga practice showing up around 3,000 B.C.

Originally, the purpose of yoga postures and breathing exercises was intended to bring about enhanced relaxation and at the same time encourage stability and alertness with the purpose of preparing for meditation.

Yoga is also considered to be one of the six primary schools of Hindu philosophy. Yoga is seen as a focusing upon meditation as a route to knowing thyself and seeking liberation.

What does the term yoga mean?

With its roots in the Sanskrit language, the word yoga refers to a merging or joining, a unification. Yoga philosophy revolves around the idea of harmoniously uniting opposites, in this case, the mind and body.

Through proper breathing techniques, flowing movement and tuning into yoga poses (asanas), the mind, emotions and the physical body are united in such a way that peace and creativity flow freely.

Yoga utilizes breath work, movement, asanas, meditation and relaxation in order to bring about and maintain a balanced and healthy stance with regard to life.

Harmony

Control is the name of the game with yoga. As such, yoga practice enhances our ability to control the aspects of our existence that surely are within our control. Naturally, many things in life are beyond our control, and this is where relaxation comes in.

Relaxation helps us to accept the things we cannot control and turn our attention to the aspects we can. For example, we can chose to react to a stressful situation by worrying, thus increasing the stress, or by releasing the tension, which results in a relaxed state of wellbeing.

In a word, yoga represents balance. Yoga is about balancing all aspects of our lives and seeking harmony in daily life.