Yoga means union.

Etymologically, it is connected to the English

word, yoke. Yoga means union with God, or, union of the little, ego-
self with the divine Self, the infinite Spirit.

Most people in the West, and also many in India, confuse yoga with
Hatha Yoga, the system of bodily postures. But yoga is primarily a
spiritual discipline.

Not that there’s anything wrong with practicing Hatha Yoga. The
body is a part of our human nature, and must be kept fit so it
doesn’t obstruct our spiritual efforts. However, those who are
focused on self-realization do not necessarily have to practice it as
much or at all.

Hatha Yoga is the physical branch of Raja Yoga, the true science of
yoga. Raja Yoga is a system of meditation techniques that help to
harmonize human consciousness with the divine consciousness.

Yoga is an art as well as a science. It is a science, because it offers

practical methods for controlling body and mind, thereby making
deep meditation possible. And it is an art, for unless it is practiced
intuitively and sensitively it will yield only superficial results.

Yoga is not a system of beliefs. It takes into account the influence on

each other of body and mind, and brings them into mutual
harmony. So often, for instance, the mind cannot concentrate
simply because of tension or illness in the body, which prevent the
energy from flowing to the brain. So often, too, the energy in the
body is weakened because the will is dispirited, or paralyzed by
harmful emotions.

Yoga works primarily with the energy in the body, through the
science of pranayama, or energy-control. Prana means also ‘breath.’
Yoga teaches how, through breath-control, to still the mind and
attain higher states of awareness.

The higher teachings of yoga take one beyond techniques, and show
the yogi, or yoga practitioner, how to direct his energy in such a way
as not only to harmonize human with divine consciousness, but to
merge his consciousness in the Infinite.
The ordinary person’s energy is locked in his body. The lack of
availability of that energy to his will prevents him from loving the
Lord one-pointedly with any of the three other aspects of his nature:
heart, mind, or soul. Only when the energy can be withdrawn from
the body and directed upward in deep meditation is true inner
communion possible.

Yoga is a very ancient science; it is thousands of years old. The

perceptions derived from its practice form the backbone of the
greatness of India, which for centuries has been legendary. The
truths espoused in the yoga teachings, however, are not limited to
India, nor to those who consciously practice yoga techniques. Many
saints of other religions also, including many Christian saints, have
discovered aspects of the spiritual path that are intrinsic to the
teachings of yoga.