Let’s start with the definition: Yoga means “union” in Sanskrit. This can be interpreted in many ways. It can be purely physical – the union of the body and the breath. Or it can be more mental – the union of the body and the mind. Some people take the union to be a more spiritual one of the person and something greater, outside of the individual. Our own interpretation of Yoga can be any or all of the above, and can change as our practice grows and changes.

Traditionally, yoga practice as Westerner’s know it, is only one part of an eight-part system designed to bring people union with a higher consciousness, and through that union, happiness. The traditional eight parts include moral guidelines, breathing practices, and meditation. One limb, the Asana, or “posture held comfortably”, is what we generally think of as “Yoga” in the West. Asana, with Pranayama, the breath, addresses the physical being. It is designed, among other things, to help keep the body fit enough for the person to experience the values of the other eight limbs.

Most of us practice yoga primarily for fitness. Even if our yoga practice does not lead to hours of sitting in silent meditation, we can benefit from the design of asana that would make that meditation easier. Our muscles, joints, organs, nerves, and glands all feel the effects of yoga. We may seek strength, flexibility, muscle tone, weight loss, mobility, etc., and we gain those and also improved circulation, digestion, glandular function, neural function, spinal and overall health.

Though people practice yoga for many different reasons, each person’s practice will bring them some measure of the union promised in the definition.