Yoga In India
What is Yoga?
In Hinduism, yoga is a set of mental and physical exercises aimed at producing spiritual enlightenment. Hindu tradition recognizes three main kinds of yoga: Jnana yoga Bhakti yoga, and Karma yoga. Jnana yoga is the path of wisdom. Bhakti yoga is the love and devotion for Krishna and other gods. Finally, Karma yoga is the action of doing deeds or action without regard for reward, punishment, or consequence.
Purpose of Yoga
Traditionally yoga was practiced to open your body and clear your mind. However, we have modernized yoga by taking out the spiritual part of it and replacing it with a way to become more flexible. Shaivism is one of the , most widely followed group of hinduism, which honors the god Shiva as the main god. In Shaivaism, yoga is used to unite ones-self with Shiva.
History of Yoga
Yoga has been practiced for thousands of year. It has evolved and changed overtime. Yoga originally focused on applying and understanding the world. Since then, it's focus has been on self-enlightenment. Now a days, yoga is a type of exercise that people do to get stronger, flexible, and or to relax.
A women doing many different poses that would be taught at a yoga class.
Did You Know?
- A 2008 study, reports that some 16 million Americans practice yoga and spend $5.7 billion a year on gear.
2. The percentage of people that practice Yoga increases on an average of 20-25% every year.
Works Cited / Bibliography
The Purpose of Yoga: http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4068/The-Purpose-of-Yoga-Meditation-in-Motion.html
Meditation in Motion, by Tamal Dodge:
Yoga History:
http://iml.jou.ufl.edu/projects/fall05/levy/history.html
39 Interesting Facts About ... Yoga
http://facts.randomhistory.com/interesting-facts-about-yoga.html
Pictures:
http://www.yogadestin.com/BeachClasses.html
http://yogabellystudio.com/blog/?p=465