What is Yoga?
In Sanskirt (a Hindu language) the word “yoga” loosely translates as “unite” or “attach”, but its etymology centers around concentration. Yoga’s origin can be traced back to 5th and 6th century India. It was also originally tied directly to Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The original practice was somewhere between a form of physical worship, sacrifice, and prayer. It was a manifestation of commitment and faithfulness. A true yogi, in this sense, w/ this level of commitment, could do miraculous things w/their body. In the 19th and 20th century yoga found its way to the west, and like all things, it was changed by its trip.
The timing of yoga’s arrival to the West had a significant impact on yoga, as well as the West. Imagine the year of our Lord 1801 U.S.A., and in strolls this very visual Eastern-based, focused, controlled practice. In the face of a Protestant or Catholic, at that time, it would have been a rough sell, and it picked up a stigma. Let’s skip ahead…
It’s 1960 baby, and yoga found a niche w/the fringe. This association, through the 60’s and 70’s, did not help bring help bring yoga into mainstream. It remained an outlier, changed and maturing, but not accepted. It was a misunderstood adolescent struggling to find itself in the West, much like the West of the time.
Today yoga is still not consistently defined due to these residual connotations and its own growth. We can accurately say yoga is a physical activity that requires an elevated level of concentration ,intentionally prompting a unique level of consciousness. We can also say that these things are good for you. It requires discipline and focus to practice yoga. We can say, focus and discipline, are needed for success and yoga can help you practice these things.
I think there is still some confusion to what level yoga is linked to spirituality or religion, and just like spirituality or religion, that level is dependent on the practitioner.
Yoga’s diversity lends to all levels of physical aptitude and subsequent health benefits. The different practices will also require various levels of concentration. Like all things, the benefit from yoga is a direct result of energy imputed, and if the yogi chooses to praise the Lord in this fashion, I say Glory be.
Edgar~
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