What is Yoga?
The word yoga in Sanskrit (the language of ancient India – where yoga originated) is defined as “UNION.”   Yoga is the true union of mind, body and spirit.

In today’s language, the word yoga is commonly used to describe the physical postures or poses (Sanskrit word “asana”), but posture or asana is only one of the eight limbs of yoga. The critical aspect of yoga is to bring ones attention inwards (the spiritual aspect of yoga) – which in turn is critical to one’s well being.

Eight limbs of Yoga
1. Yama: The 1st limb constitutes the 5 ethical guidelines for moral behavior towards others.
Ahimsa: Nonviolence
Satya: Truthfulness
Asteya: Nonstealing
Brahmacharya: Nonlust
Aparigraha: Non-covetousness
2. Niyama: The 2nd limb constitutes the 5 guidelines for moral behavior towards oneself.
Saucha: Cleanliness
Santosa: Contenmtment
Tapas: Sy\ustained practice
Svadhaya: Self Study
Isvara pranidhana: Surrender to God
3. Asana: The 3rd limb is the practice of yoga postures.
4. Pranayama: The 4th limb is the practice of controlled breathing exercises.
5. Pratyahara: The 5th limb is the practice of withdrawal of the senses, the practice of going inwards.
6. Dharana: The 6th limb is the practice of concentration, the ability to focus without distractions from the outside world.
7. Dhyana: The 7th limb is the practice of meditation. Meditation is a holistic discipline through which the practitioner attempts to get beyond the reflexive, "thinking" mind into a deeper state awareness.
8. Samadhi: The 8th limb of yoga is the state of bliss, the enlightened state, where the Self transcends through meditation.

Yoga Benefits:
Yoga is a way of life, of the highest kind. It is a profound integrative practice with healing benefits.

Physical benefits: Yoga reshapes the body, developing a healthy, strong, toned, flexible, and supple body. It enhances lung capacity and respiration. It enhances the immune system, allowing the body's natural drug store to flourish. It brings in energy and vitality. It balances metabolism, and promotes heart and spine health. Yoga relieves pain and enables one to look and feel younger.
Mental benefits: Yoga has been proven to relax and de-stress the human body. It helps to quiet the mind, allowing one to live in the present moment, to connect with ones Higher Self, with the Divine. It encourages a positive outlook and self acceptance. It allows one to make conscious choices, with awareness, for it settles ones mind into silence with consistent practice. As a result, ones innate, joyous spirit comes to the forefront; ego loses its meaning, attachments become trivial.
Spiritual benefits: Yoga creates awareness of ones Higher Self. It promotes compassion, awareness of the needs of others, and the concept of “oneness.”  It creates a whole new world for concepts like expectations, ego, anger, patience, contentment, relationships. It creates a world of love.