The word Hatha is composed from ‘ha’, meaning sun and ‘tha’ meaning moon. The word Yoga derives from the Sanskrit word Yug ‘to join’ and is often translated as ‘union’ or ‘unite’.
Yoga can be defined as uniting our mind, body and breath to find equilibrium and a sense of harmony and balance in our lives.
Yoga originated in ancient India. Artifacts discovered from the Indus Valley Civilization show figures in seated, cross-legged poses, and symbols later associated with yoga. Sri Patanjali Maharishi is known as the father of yoga and it is on his integrated, concise and philosophical text, “Yoga Sutras”, that the yoga of today has laid its foundation. This text was written over 2000 years ago.
Yoga involves the mindful practice of physical postures and poses (asana in Sanskrit) and together with breathing exercises (pranayama), good relaxation techniques and meditation, it is the perfect way to ensure overall health, well being, banish stress and to create balance in our all too hectic modern lifestyles.
Further Reading :
If you would like to support your yoga practice with some further reading about the history and philosophy of yoga and yoga practice, I can recommend the following classic texts which are on reading lists for all yoga teachers and students of yoga :
Light on Yoga by BKS Iyengar
ISBN : 9780007107001
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali : translated and introduced by Alistair Shearer
ISBN : 9780609609590
The Heart of Yoga : Developing a Personal Practice by TKV Desikachar
ISBN : 9780892817641
Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Swami Muktibodhananda
ISBN : 9788185787381
The Bhagavad Gita : A Walkthrough for Westerners by Jack Hawley
ISBN : 9781608680146
