What is Hypnotherapy?

Hypnotherapy is the therapy carried out when a person is under hypnosis. The term “hypnosis” is derived from the Greek word hypnos meaning “sleep.” Hypnosis is coined from James Braid’s (1843) word “neuro-hypnotism” which means “sleep of the nervous system”.

A person under hypnosis shows some unusual characteristics and propensities, unlike a person who is non-hypnotized. This is particularly true when it comes to the power of suggestion. A hypnotized person is sensitive to hyper-suggestibility. Authorities believe that this is a direct result of hypnosis.

Hypnotherapy is applied under hypnosis for a variety of reasons. One is to change someone’s behavior or views. Another is for treatment of various illnesses particularly stress-induced illnesses.

In a January issue of Health Magazine, it says that regular practice of hypnotherapy for 10 or 20 minutes a day by focusing thoughts on one phrase such as “I am well” or image such as a pristine beach can effectively lessen blood pressure, pain, anxiety and depression.

Modalities

There are different kinds of hypnotherapy. These are:

Traditional hypnotherapy

This was practiced by Victorian hypnotists. The kind of therapy employed here is to directly suggest removal of symptom by using therapeutic relaxation and refraining from alcohol, drugs, etc.

Hypnoanalysis

This kind of therapy was introduced by Sigmund Freud and Joseph Breuer in 1895. They used hypnosis so clients can go back to an earlier age and recall traumatic memories. Freud later abandoned this treatment in favor of psychoanalysis. French rival, Pierce Janethad however published a case study delving on the subject of hynotic psychotherapy using age regression.

Later regression hypnotherapy was called alternatively as “hypnoanalysis”, “analytic hypnotherapy”, or “psychodynamic hypnotherapy.”

Hypnoanalysis became popular during the two world wars. This treatment was used by military psychiatrists instead of psychoanalysis to treat the shellshock state of the soldiers, a condition referred to now as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Controversies hounded the use regression when in the 1990s, several legal cases were filed by clients against their therapists for claiming that the former had false memory syndrome.

Ericksonian hypnotherapy

This therapy is based on hypnotist Milton H. Erickson. He developed a revolutionary approach to hypnotism in the 1950s. Erickson employed an informal conversational method and used complex language patterns and therapeutic approaches. Andre Weitzenhoffer questioned Erickson’s approach and for branding it as hypnosis. But Erickson’s method became the foundation for modern hypnotherapy particularly in Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP).

Cognitive/behavioral hypnotherapy

This kind of therapy was established by researchers in the 1980s who combined hynotherapy with cognitive and behaviour therapy. Theodore Barber together with his colleagues in 1974 forwarded a review of Theodore Sarbin’s theory that hypnotism is not a “special state” but simply a manifestation of psychological variables such as active imagination, expectation, appropriate attitudes, and motivation. Barber coined the term “cognitive-behavioral.”

New Age hypnotherapy

New Age approaches are considered as pseudoscientific because they combine age regression and reincarnation. These methods do not form part of the “evidence-based” practice of hypnotherapy.

How to Get More Vitamin D

Vitamin D because is good for health and prevent various illnesses such as cancer and osteoporosis. This is the problem of people living in climates where a sunshiny day is a rare occurrence. Sunshine is the best source of Vitamin D. More research confirms the role of Vitamin D in the maintenance of health and preventing variety of diseases ranging from osteoporosis to cancer. Aside from preventing diseases, vitamin D also plays key role in calcium metabolism.

Vitamin D is the most easily accessible vitamin there is. However, the reality paints a different picture. About a billion people worldwide are Vitamin D deficient. How so?

Know how to get more Vitamin D here:

1. Take Vitamin D supplements. Scientists believe that around a billion people worldwide are Vitamin D deficient. This offers a number of benefits. One of these is it helps metabolize calcium. Vitamin D will help maximimize the benefits of calcium. Perhaps, the most obvious step to have more of this vitamin would be to take supplements daily. Vitamin D supplements will ensure that we have enough in our body.

2. Get some sun. Exposed yourself to the sun particularly between 6 – 7 a.m. when the sun’s rays are not that scorchingly hot. Sunlight enables 7-dehydrocholesterol, a Vitamin D synthesis naturally found in our skin to be converted into active form. To get enough sunlight, you need twelve minutes of sun exposure with your arms exposed to the sun twice a week. Darker skinned people require a bit longer than 12 minutes due to the higher melanin content in their skin which would prevent the immediate penetration of sunlight.

3. Vitamin D diet. Eat fish daily. Salmon, shrimp, sardines are all excellent sources of Vitamin D. Take products or shift to those products that are Vitamin D fortified such as cereals and milk.

4. Take cod liver oil. Drink this oil as a Vitamin D supplement.

Take all these steps and you will be sure that your Vitamin D needs for the day are taken cared of.

What is CAM (Complementary and Alternative Medicine)

What is CAM? Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is any medicine, health care practices and goods used for therapy that do not fall under standard medical care. A more comprehensive definition of what is CAM is adopted by United States the Institute of Medicine :

“Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) is a broad domain of resources that
encompasses health systems, modalities, and practices and their accompanying theories and
beliefs, other than those intrinsic to the dominant health system of a particular society or
culture in a given historical period. CAM includes such resources perceived by their users as
associated with positive health outcomes. Boundaries within CAM and between the CAM
domain and the domain of the dominant system are not always sharp or fixed.”

Differences and Definitions

Complementary Medicine. As the name itself suggests, is used to complement or support standard medicines. They do not replace conventional medicines.

Alternative Medicines are used in place of standard treatments.

Integrative Medicine aims to treat holistically and combines both standard and CAM medicines.

Complementary and alternative medicines are generally popular in developing countries where access to conventional medicines is sometimes difficult. But that doesn’t mean that developed countries are not using them.

In developed countries, an estimated half of the population uses complementary and alternative medicine. In United States, for instance, the most popular alternative therapies used are yoga, meditation, herbal treatments and Atkins diet. Praying, group praying or spiritual healing practices are also gaining popularity.

Five (5) Categories of Complementary and Alternative Medicine

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine created five categories that make up what is CAM. These are the following:

First Category : Mind-Body Techniques
Second Category: Biologically-Based Practices
Third Category : Manipulative and Body-Based Practices
Fourth Category : Energy Medicines
Fifth Category : Whole Medical Systems

Arguments Against CAM

CAM therapies gained popularity among the masses but these have been criticized by scientific researchers. Consequently, it is hard to determine if they actually work or the result is just a manifestation of placebo effect. Placebo effect means treatment done through the power of suggestion. Also, these medicines could counter the effects of the standard medications you are taking in.

Patients, are therefore, cautioned to proceed with care in using complementary and alternative medicines. It is always good to let the physician know what you are taking so standard medicines and CAM could work well together.

Medical practitioners and the scientific community contended the use of these natural stress relief medicines mainly for the reason that these medicines are not clinically and scientifically tested. Those who promote alternative treatment also do not require testing of the product which makes it even more difficult to assess. Scientiests believe that “[w]hat most sets alternative medicine apart, in our view, is that it has not been scientifically tested and its advocates largely deny the need for such testing.”

The US Institute of Medicine, however, do not agree with the normative definition of alternative medicine that the scientists forwarded. This is because some CAM did undergo testing. And ironically, most of the conventional medicines are not evidence-based.

As a matter of fact, Off-Label drugs which are not scientifically tested have been prescribed by physicians 1/5 of the time and among psychiatrists the percentage is even higher pegged at 31% or nearly 1/3.

Even proponents of evidence-based medicines admit this discrepancy. Cochrane Collaboration and Edzard Ernst both admitted that the ideal evidence-based method for medicines has not been achieved by either conventional or alternative medicines.

The definition of alternative and conventional medicine however varies from country to country. Some herbs are considered conventional in Europe but are treated as alternative medicines in the United States.

The effects of Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) may not be proven at the start but if proven effective and safe, they should be accepted as part of conventional medicine. Some scientists agree with this notion saying “once a treatment has been tested rigorously, it no longer matters whether it was considered alternative at the outset. If it is found to be reasonably safe and effective, it will be accepted.”

CAM may not be considered mainstream, at first, but if given the chance to be tested and proven just like mainstream medicines, they could become cheap, safe and effective alternatives or complements to standard medicines.

How to Get Benefits from Yoga Fitness

The practice of Yoga provides us a number of health benefits.

Yoga is a form of exercise that practice discipline to promote control of the body and mind. It teaches a system of techniques on meditation, different physical movements and postures,and proper breathing that can be used for managing stress, learning to relax, and increasing limberness.

It promotes self-awareness through acquiring the deepest knowledge of self. The nature of the approach is a non-strenuous activities, which make it suitable for everyone, any age or physical condition. Yoga is not a religion nor has no fix set of beliefs. Its philosophy is that everything comes from within the Self. Regular daily practice of yoga of all parts produce a clear, bright mind, and as strong, capable body. To know the various types of yoga and its benefits .

1. Yoga for managing insomnia can help identify the habits that contribute to sleeplessness and slowly change them, and at the same time add more relaxation. Doing deep breathing as part of pre-sleep routine will enable us to sleep better.

2.Hasya Yoga can help reduce stress, and enhance immune system. This is a fun way when chuckles, giggles and belly laughs are mixed with yoga, which becomes yoga laughter.

3. Facial Yoga comprises of series of toning and strengthening exercises for the muscles of your face. It helps to fight the wrinkles naturally.

4. Yoga Diet. Yogic diet is said be a lacto- vegetarian, which means that is made up entirely of non-animal foods with exceptions of milk, cheese, yoghurt, butter eggs and honey.

The Healing Power of Prayer

Prayer is an effective antidote to all negativities we encounter.

That is a proven fact.

Even doctors and scientists admit this undeniable truth and marvel at its effectiveness. In a study conducted to determine the effects of prayers to patients, a group of patients who are prayed upon and who practiced daily prayer methods were compared to those who do not have prayer support. Results revealed that the number of patients with prayer support and got cured were higher than those who didn’t.

The healing powers of prayer is a fact long adhered to by the religious but long-disputed by science. However, both science and religion now have arrived at the same conclusion after clinical studies were conducted and that is “Prayer works”.

Why prayer is effective is another fact subject to dispute. But both scientists and religous admit that prayers work because having faith that you will get cured or you will overcome obstacles is winning half the battle. The remaining 50% depends on other numerous variables such as medicine, money, technology, doctor’s skills, etc.

What we can glean from this seemingly miraculous power of prayer is this – there is something about prayer that makes the human spirit indomitable. That gives it strength, hope and determination. In essence, it is a way to communicate with God. Somehow it makes sense that prayer works because in order to gain a new lease on life, we need to go back to its Source. And the Source will never let us down if we earnestly ask. That is the basic premise behind prayers. And the reason why it is effective – be it in illness or in everything else.

Non-drug or Alternative Therapies

Non-drug or alternative therapies refer to treatments that are medicines not prescribed by typical health professionals.

Non-drug or alternative therapies refer to treatments that are medicines not prescribed by typical health professionals. It is as medicines used instead of regular medicine. Some alternative therapies have been used for centuries in other parts of the world. Others have just gained acceptance. Non-drug or alternative therapies have exhibited promise in curing ailments. However, one must proceed with caution in using these drugs.

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) enumerates five kinds of non-drug or alternative therapies. These are the following:

Alternative medical systems pertain to complete systems of medical theory and practice. In the East, some of the popular alternative medical systems used are traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda. The West introduced homeopathy and naturopathy which were popular in Europe or the United States.

Mind-body interventions are therapies which involve techniques intended to improve the mind’s capacity to influence the state of the body. Some of the therapies under this are EEG biofeedback, meditation, prayer, and art therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy started as an alternative mind-body intervention which has become an accepted method of therapy.

Biologically based therapies refer to therapies that need substances found in nature, such as herbs, vitamins, and certain foods. The ketogenic diet is an example under this category which was proven scientifically to be effective and is now an accepted method of healing.

Manipulative and body-based methods are methods that require maneuvering parts of the body. Chiropractic and massage are popular examples of this kind of therapy.

Energy therapies are therapies which utilizes energy fields. Two popular methods under this are the biofield therapies and bioelectromagnetic-based therapies. The former such as Reiki and Therapeutic Touch include energy fields of the human body, which currently has no scientific basis. Bioelectromagnetic-based therapies make use of magnets or electrical current like the magnetic stimulation.

Alternative therapies have evolved through the years. Several new approaches have been introduced with the discovery of new health methods. Others have been proven safe and effective and become an accepted part of health care. One good example of this is in epilepsy where the ketogenic diet started as an alternative therapy but has been proven scientifically and has now an accepted way to treat particular patients.

Methods of Yoga

Samadhi refers to the Super-conscious or trance-like state which is also known as the state of liberation

1.  Bhakti Yoga

Bhakti yoga, or devotional yoga, is the path most suitable for people who wants to seek emotional fulfillment and well being.  The “bhakta” employs the practice of meditation where one visualizes, thinks and feels that he or she is always in the presence of the Lord. The bhakta opens up his heart, gives his love and communicates his innermost views and worries with the Lord until awareness flows through the devotee and the Lord repeatedly. This continual flow of love and life force leads to the superconscious state of awareness which is commonly referred to as mood, or bhava.

Often in bhakti meditation, one is aware of two things: the relationship between the self and Lord and the separation of being – that of the Lord’s and of his own. In certain occasions the devotee is no longer aware of the self and becomes aware only of the Lord. At times other times, the bhakta feels that spirit of the Lord fills and dwells in him.

In both situations – twoness and oneness – transformation occurs within the person.  Character markedly improves. The periods of higher consciousness regularly occurs.  With constant practice, the bhakta develops a permanent relationship with the Lord.

This permanent relationship does not imply constancy. It evolves further into one dimension of love to another. These relationships are constantly evolving and frequently bring joy to the bhakti yogi for the rest of his/her life.

Bhakti yoga also enables the yogi to experience the great samadhis or the condition of attaining higher states of awareness which other yogis strive for.

2.  Karma Yoga

Karma is defined as “to do”.  Karma pertains to the principle of cause and effect which influences all of us.  Karma is the effect of our previous thoughts and deeds. The devotee of Karma yoga must first realize the indisputable fact that his/her thoughts and feelings results in the future. In order to lead a more fulfilling and blissful life, he has to change his old thoughts and feelings to affect a pattern of new causes.

By replacing old habits with new causes, he can be assured that positive and successful karma awaits him and his beloved.

Karma yoga meditation requires the following:

a. Knowingly surrendering our selfish interests to the Lord. One no longer works, speaks, acts or meditate in such a way that is self-serving.   A karma yogi ceases to live for oneself but to serve the greater purpose of God, or the higher self which is exemplified by the person’s soul, no longer for the ego.

b. One must offer oneself – one’s actions, thoughts, words, and feelings – to God. The karma yogi believes that God is the doer. The lower self consisting of the mind, the heart, the hands exist solely to serve God’s purposes.  The devotee aims for nothing else but to be the means of expressing the Lord’s love, light, and will.

3. Jnana Yoga

Jnana means wisdom. The end sought for in Jnana yoga then is wisdom.  The central purpose of jnana meditation is to detach the mind and emotions from erroneous perceptions of life and self to be able to be in tune with the unblemished truth or Spirit.

To achieve “jnani”, the devotee of discernment must meditate to let go or ignore all thoughts and feelings until the bright glow of the soul fills the mind and heart and begins the work of conversion and enlightenment within the immersed yogi.

To do this almost impossible task of ridding oneself of wayward thoughts and emotions, jnana yoga uses of the technique called neti-neti is encouraged.  Neti-neti simply means “not this, not this.”  You utter those words silently when a thought or feeling which is not in harmony with the aim of the meditation and does not reflect the soul or the inner self comes to mind.  The meditator simply repeats, “Not this, not this,” and ignore thoughts, views, feelings, sounds, or anything that can cause disturbance to the meditation. These unwanted thoughts and emotions are patiently set aside over and over again until a state of clarity of mind is achieved and the soul is finally revealed.

It is important to keep in mind that meditation should be done consciously that is in a state of alertness. It is not attained by meditation in a passive way.

The “neti-neti” habit enables the jnana yoga practitioner to let go of negativity such as those feelings of worry, insecurity, or fear.  The inner self becomes apparent. Those negative emotions no longer have power over the person.

4.  Raja Yoga

Raja literally means royal or kingly. Raja yoga meditation is based on focusing one’s energies to put the mind and emotions in a state of balance that facilitates in focusing on the Lord immediately.

The Raja yoga process is done by directing the life force to move up and down the spine until it achieves balance and the mind and emotions are in a state of contentment. Then the awareness is moved to a place at the center of the lower forehead. This meditation point is called ajna, or the third eye which is found around half an inch between the eyebrows.

If the life force is in a state of balance throughout the mind and body and is directed in the meditation point ajna, the mind achieves a state of utter calmness. In this state, the mind continues to be conscious but is no longer muddled by empty thoughts and worries. One naturally feels a state of bliss and well-being and the mind seems to be overflowing with velvety darkness.

As the consciousness is directed to the third eye, one can see pastel colors appearing in the forehead. Pastel colors could be bright shades of pinks, yellows, whites, blues, indigos, greens, and purples constantly run through your forehead alternately.  It is similar to seeing fireflies as the energy gets more intense and more actively readies the practitioner to be in a state of higher consciousness. This process allows the person to be in her/his true nature where pure consciousness, pure spirit, pure awareness abound.

The light in your forehead glows brighter than the sun.  Despite the glowing brightness, it appears soothing to the eyes and not blinding. This is the person’s inner light manifesting itself.

A teacher is necessary in learning Raja yoga, because this particular yoga could strain the beginner.  Experiences of seeing the light could be a result of hallucinations instead of attaining higher level of higher consciousness.  A raja yogi who surrenders his or her will to God would eventually attain bliss.

Raja Yoga comes by repeated effort to follow the disciplines that result in permanent thought control.  It must be made over a long period with earnest devotion, deliberately expelling desire for what is experienced, and uniting or identifying with one’s higher Self.

Patanjali’s text enumerates the eight “limbs” of yoga practice.  Despite its connotations, in reality, only one of them requires physical postures which are limited primarily to seated positions. The eight are:

1) Yama refers to the five “abstentions” or things to abstain from which are violence, lying, theft, (illicit) sex, and possessions.

2) Niyama refers to the five “observances” or the things to do which are purity, contentment, austerities, study, and surrender to god.

3) Asana: The literal meaning is “seat,” and was intended to refer particularly to seated positions. With the popularity of Hatha yoga, it came to mean as yoga “postures” too.

4) Pranayama: Refers to the control of prāna or vital breath

5) Pratyahara  refers to “Abstraction” or those “that by which the senses do not come into contact with their objects and, as it were, follow the nature of the mind.” — Vyasa

6) Dharana refers to “Concentration” or focusing the attention on one object

7) Dhyana means “Meditation”

Samadhi refers to the Super-conscious or trance-like state which is also known as the state of liberation

5.  Hatha Yoga

Hatha yoga has come to our attention as the yoga necessary to attain health and vitality.  Hatha Yoga exercises, stretches and liberates the body to make it healthy and essential tool for the mind and soul.  Hatha yoga practitioner also notices extreme clarity of the mind and concentration.  Some yogis use hatha yoga as the primary means to attain spiritual realization.  Clear minds and healthy bodies make it easier to go into meditation.

Hatha literally means sun and moon, being ha as the word for sun in Sanskrit and tha means moon. Hatha yoga emphasizes the need to unite the body’s inner currents specifically Feeling, Thinking, Willing, and Acting until they are in perfect harmony.

Generally, the hatha yogi directs energy at the ajna or around half an inch above the point between the eyebrows to attain a calm mind then moves the awareness into a super-conscious state. The individual life, the temporary state meets, touches and combines momentarily with the infinite.

Hatha yoga meditation is not as popular today as it was then.  It also demands that the practitioner strives for the purity of life which demands a lot of time and energy. However, those who become hatha yogis attain health and universal unity.

Five Basic Yogas

Each basic form of yoga serves as the way to attain enlightenment:

Bhakti Yoga  -  stresses love and devotion

Karma Yoga – selfless work

Jnana Yoga –  knowledge and discernment

Raja Yoga – eight-limbed system of disciplines emphasizing meditation.

Hatha Yoga – purification of the physical to attain purification of the mind.

Yoga and Religion

Yoga is so closely linked to religion that in the practices of Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jain, the spiritual goals of yoga are forms part of the religions. Some yogis point out that the distinction between religion and yoga lies in its purpose. For religion, the main purpose is the fulfillment and promotion of culture, values, beliefs and rituals. Yoga, on the other hand, is more focused on attaining self-realization.  Religion and yoga then are complementary. It is hard to get to one without using the other.

The yoga traditions originated from India but the efforts of modern yogis helped propagate the study and practice of yoga in the West. Prominent yogis are Swami Vivekananda and Paramahansa Yogananda.  Their efforts pave the way for yoga to progress.  Western practice of yoga though sometimes reduced it to mere physical exercises not for the attainment of deeper spirituality that was originally intended to be.

Yoga and Metaphysical Faith

The modern practice of yoga usually comprises of elements customarily derived from Hinduism.  These elements include the following:   moral and ethical principles, postures that will make the body healthy, spiritual philosophy, use of guru in giving instructions, mantra chanting, breathing quietly and meditation to achieve calmness of mind.  These elements are used to be able to facilitate the needs of non-Hindu practitioners.

Daily and continuous practice of yoga often leads to beneficial results.  The benefits derived from yoga are numerous and varied.  Common among the yoga benefits are enhanced physical well-being, emotional and mental health and state of bliss.  Those who are experts in practicing yoga often attain samadhi or an advanced state of meditation where the practitioner becomes conscious of inner bliss.

Different traditions used yoga for a variety of purposes.  In Hinduism, yoga is intended as a group pf practices that will enable people to attain closer ties with god or union with god.  In, Buddhism, yoga is not meant to foster god-centered relationship but to gain more wisdom, compassion and insight.

Among the Western nations, where individualism is strongly adhered to, propagation of yoga practices came about due to the need to find oneself or find meaning and purpose for one’s existence and to unite the different facets of self.

In Hindu yoga the terms Self-Realization and god-Realization are often synonymous.  This is so because the attainment of self-realization often leads to attaining god-like nature or characteristics.

Yoga is meant to arrive at the ultimate goal of achieving freedom Moksha from sufferings the world wrought and to stop the cycle of birth and death or Samsara.  Yoga requires mastery over body, mind, emotional self and the overcoming worldly desires. Through yoga we attain knowledge of what is real and true.

The Yogi or the practitioner of yoga must reach a state of enlightenment where thought stops and one experiences perfect union of the person’s soul or the Atman with the highest Reality or Brahman as preached in the Vedanta philosophy; or with a particular god or goddess as advocated by Hinduism and some types of Buddhism.  Enlightenment also pertains to the disappearance of the limited ego and the direct and permanent insight of the oneness of the universe.

An average person not in the state of enlightenment, yoga aids the person in attaining spiritual awareness or nurturing spiritual qualities such as compassion and insight.  Yoga is often associated with Hinduism but adherents to yoga believe that it is not a religion but delineates the applicable steps which can help people irregardless of religion.

The metaphysical foundations of Yoga are necessary components in the actual practice of Yoga. A person who embarks on the practice of yoga and does not equip himself with the knowledge on its philosophical basis would end up merely acting out a routine. He is similar to a machine, doing things mechanically assuming that he or she is doing yoga.  The attainment and truth should be at the heart of every yoga practice.

Psychology of Yoga

Just like psychology or the methods of psychology, yoga uses the mind in a variety of ways.  Yoga usually employs the practice of concentration or dharana and meditation or dhyana. Dharana, as defined by Patanjali, refers to the “binding of consciousness to a single point.” Focusing the awareness on a single sensation such as breathing will lead to meditation or dhyana. This state enables the inner senses to develop and unite with the larger truth.  Meditators sometimes experiences stillness, bliss, and harmony.

Where did Yoga Originate

History of yoga begins some four to eight thousand years ago up to today.  Where did yoga originate? There were images found that features yogi in the middle of meditation from the Indus Valley Civilization which dates some 6 to 7 thousand years ago.  There were signs that yoga has been practiced since pre-Vedic times.  Vedic refers to the oldest sacred Hindu scripture.  The first written story of yoga was found in the Rig Veda which was written around 1500 and 1200 BC.

Rig Veda is a compilation of Vedic Sanskrit hymns which forms a part of the Vedas. Due to the fact that original accounts of Rig Veda were passed on through word of mouth for at least a millenium, it is hard to use this as the main basis. The first yoga text is around 2nd century BC by the Patanjali and recommends the “eight limbs” which comprise the “Ashtanga Yoga” and its purpose is to gain serenity of mind and to become one with god. Yoga then was infused in Buddhist and Jain philosophies and found its way into our present times.  Yoga is a practice that endures through centuries.

Part of the answer as to where yoga originate is the fact that Yoga was evident in the Vedic shastras or religious Hindu texts, consequently, pegging its age to be around four thousand years.

The idea behind yoga which is to unite mind, body and soul with god was explicitly discussed in the most important religious texts of Hinduism, the Upanishads or Vedanta, which are found in the Vedas.  These texts which are important clues as to where did yoga begin are found in the Maitrayaniya Upanishad (ca. 200-300 BCE) where yoga is described as follows:

“Shadanga-Yoga – The uniting discipline of the six limbs (shad-anga), as expounded in the Maitrayaniya-Upanishad: (1) breath control (pranayama), (2) sensory inhibition (pratyahara), (3) meditation (dhyana), (4) concentration (dharana), (5) examination (tarka), and (6) ecstasy (samadhi).”

The basic thinking behind Upanishads is that instead of using sacrifices and ceremonies to please external gods,  man can gain more favor with the gods by attaining unity with the Supreme Being through inner sacrifices and developing spiritual qualities such as moral culture, discipline of the mind and self-control.

The Word “Yoga”

To determine where did yoga originate it is important to know the meaning of yoga.  The term “yoga” is derived from the Sanskrit root yuj (”to yoke”); which is equivalent to the modern English word for “yoke”.  Both comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *yeug- which is “to join” or “unite”.

It is generally translated as union of the individual atma  or the person’s soul with the Paramatma or the universal soul. This means the human body mind and spirit becomes one with the Divine.  The person then who wants to try yoga may be called a yogi.  In Sanskrit, it is referred to as yogin for male and yogini for female. These title are often used to refer to advanced practitioners of yoga and not for beginners.

What is Yoga

Yoga has been around for centuries.  Recently, people seem to confuse yoga with various exercises that require twisting or turning of bodies.  Not so.  So what is yoga? Although yoga does make use of various exercises, the practice of which is not limited to those exercises alone. Sometimes our limited knowledge about yoga has caused us to approach it with timidity or with suspicion.  Consequently, this has hindered us in appreciating the intricacies and beauty of practicing one of the oldest holistic processes.  In order to attain a higher view on yoga and its complexities, one needs to scratch beyond the surface, delve deeper and give it due credence.

Unbeknownst to some what is Yoga is not a method based on superstitions but actually a practical science. It is a holistic system that refines the body, mind and the spirit, allowing these aspects to co-exist harmoniously with each other and consequently bring health, peace and bliss.

Yoga originated in India.  What is yoga in India is a part of a group of ancient spiritual practices which find its way to the modern times.  Until now, it is being practiced there.  The five main yogas are Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Raja Yoga and Hatha Yoga.

There are other numerous types and variations of the basic yogas which have mushroomed especially in the West nowadays.  But mostly makes use of the asanas or the yoga postures of Hatha Yoga for fitness exercises.

What is yoga? Yoga is an instrument to enlightenment in Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism and it influenced other spiritual practices all over the world.

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