Yoga has been called a science, an art, a philosophy, a religion, a fad and a fanatism. It is all of these or none, depending upon the student and his own control of his perception and conceptions, producing a conscious, rational mind.

To avoid all confusions, accept YOGA as a way of life, a way of integrating your whole nature, so that all aspects of your life work in harmony, one with another. Yoga is Conscious Evolution, the Reality of learning to grow through the process of evolution.

Although India has protected this way of life for milennia, it is not necessarily an Indian Science alone. Nowhere in its aphorisms can it be found that one will be a better Hindu by these practices. Rather one attains to awareness to his divinity. In Yoga practice, one become better at whatever he is: a better Christian, a better Muslim, a better Buddhist, a better Hindu and a better human being.

The term “Yoga” comes from the world’s most ancient language, Sanskrit. “Yuj” means “to join” or “to yoke together”, “to unify”, “to unite as one”. In the truest sense, Yoga means a total blending together without differentiation.

In recent years, Yoga has become a world philosophy and Hatha Yoga is probably the most practiced form of body discipline. Yoga is a spiritual path whose aim is the individual realization in consciousness of the Independent, Self-Existing, Self-Originating, Indwelling Spirit of Man.

Yoga is not standing on your head, attending a once a week Yoga class, reading a book on Yoga, watching a Yoga TV special, chanting mantra or belonging to a Yoga group. One continues to see the phenomenon of the “five star hotel Yoga tours” advertised in western magazines. Influenced by the western world and spreading to countries around, Yoga is now misconceived as Asana only, which is the physical aspect. Most students who attend so called Yoga sessions are only taught on Asanas (physical posture) by self proclaimed Gurus.

Rather, Yoga is a way of life where the principles and practices of Yoga are made the foundation of the spiritual life.

Yoga is highly ethical. The Raja Yoga system of Ashtanga or the Yoga of Eight Branches starts with five virtues. These virtues are: Ahimsa, non-violence; Satya, adherence to the truth; Asteya, non-stealing; Bramacharya, control of sensuality; and Aparigraha, non-greed.

Followed after the five virtues are the observation of five conditions which must be approached at the mind level.

Sancha is inner and outer cleanliness, a concern for cleanliness of body, clothes and environment but even more deeply, an inner ecology which refrains from polluting the breath or the mind. Santhosha is mental serenity. Tapas is discipline directed by a wise mind. Swadyaya is self-knowledge through introspection. Atma-Pranidhan is instant obedience to the dictates of the higher mind, through intuition of the self.

Yoga prescribes positive emotions like friendliness, gentleness, love, unity, compassion and empathy and curbs only the distractive, destructive and disruptive feelings.

All religions and sciences believe and accept Oneness and Yoga is that Oneness. In Yoga there is no conflict with religion, philosophy or science.

Finally, to achieve a path to Yoga, it is very critical to choose an experienced, qualified and trained teacher. The Guru or teacher should be committed, disciplined and above all, capable of teaching by example that the by-products of Yoga……are good health, happiness and spiritual evolution.