It is the exercise of discipline, the practice of purification. It is said that the great sages spontaneously practiced yoga, evolving out of their relationship and harmony with nature. Using their deepest intuition, intelligence, and experience, they became familiar and instinctual about the energy flowing through all life forms. They developed natural ways to access, build, nurture and direct the energy for greater health and awareness. The oldest and most popularly known book of Yoga is the Bhagavad-Gita, translated to mean Lord's Prayer.
Yoga is defined as balance, centering, or equanimity, samatva.
In Yoga, the yogi aspires to transcend the ego into pure self, balance, consciousness, centering its deepest awareness to the point of liberation. Liberation comes when the yogi breaks the bonds of old habits and patterns which bind us to the restrictions of the past and the anxiety of the future. In the last 100 years, yoga has become available to the masses as never before, presented through 100's of centers throughout the world, through classes, workshops, tutelages, videos, books, audio tapes, even TV programs. These poses invigorate the mind and body by eliminating tension, aches, and pains. Internally, these postures stimulate digestion, regulate the kidneys, and alleviate constipation, as well as improve circulation and breathing by developing the strength of the legs and the flexibility of the pelvis and lower back.