Yoga An Ancient Artform

The word yoga takes us back to the ancient times and brings to mind a plethora of images of extraordinary postures that seem impossible to attempt, let alone master. Yoga is much more than mastering the various postures or increasing your flexibility. It is an ancient practice that involves various physical stances as well as several mental and breathing exercises that cleanse our mind, body and soul. Initially Yoga focused on helping the community. Slowly it changed its focus to self-enlightenment as its ultimate goal. "The traditional purpose of Yoga, however, has always been to bring about a profound transformation in the person through the transcendence of the ego”.Yoga is a science that has transcended boundaries, language and culture and has got worldwide acceptance. It is estimated that over 35 million people practice yoga in America and U.K. Yoga has continued to evolve over the years and now there are various disciplines that are practiced. The origins, the concept, the ultimate goal and the various benefits of practicing such an ancient art form are still unknown to many. There are many more aspects to practicing yoga than meets our eye or the many benefits that are extolled by the corporate honchos trying to expand their business and ride this relatively new fad. Beyond the assumption that it started in India, the knowledge about yoga takes a dip into the unknown. This Book aims at enlightening you and takes you into the wonderful yet mysterious world of Yoga. "Yoga is the practice of quieting the mind." Patanjali