Yoga opens thedoorway to enlightened way of living.The word yoga has its origins from the Sanskrit root yuj, to join, tounite, to attach. The English word yoke is cognate with the Sanskrit word yoga.One can think of yoga as the joining of the atma with the paramatma, the soulwith God. The system of yoga involves different body exercises. Patangali popularizedthis system in Indiaand is followed by different yoga teachers in the world. Patangali yoga system is also know as Ashtangayoga meaning eight limbs of yoga. The eight limbs are 1. Yama (restraints) heremore focus is laid on the self correction and moral conduct , 2. Niyama (observances)here the practitioner tries to adopt and observe the good habits and learns tobe a help person and to take care of the surroundings around him, 3. Asana (postures) this limbfocus on different postures of the body which create some sort pressure on theinternal organs of the body thereby improving health, 4. Pranayama (breathcontrol) here one deals with the complete breathing exercises. Many yoga teachers believe that improper wayof breathing has being the root cause of many diseases in the body and properbreathing will make one healthy and vibrant.But it is advisable to always practice pranayama in the presence ofexpert, because the process itself, increase the vital energy in the body andthe person practicing should be in a position to balance it, 5.Pratyahara (sensewithdrawal) in this modern world where the mind is continuously preoccupiedwith thought rushing from all directions can be calmed down, but it doesrequire good practice and open the doors to live a life of divinity and fulfillment.
6. Dharana (concentration) If one is successfulin controlling are withdrawing his sense complete that becoming complete busywith only himself then one successfully enters Dharane, 7. Dhyana (Meditation)it is the key to inner happiness and blessed living and there are many meditationways in the world by various saints in the world and if practiced effectivelyit brings tremendous changes in the total framework of a person personality. This stage brings significant changes in oneslife style. 8. Samadhi it is the stage where persons ego is observered with thesuperego and there is no more concept of duality here the person practicingyoga becomes one with the source and this stage is very dramatic and divine andcannot be put in words. As His holiness SriRamakrishna was once asked to narrate about this state his answer was that “asslat when added in water does gets mixedup completely in it. If one practicesthis system then he is free from the clutches of stress and at the same timelead a blessed life of fulfillment