Yoga means to “unite” or create a “balance”. Primarily Yoga is a spiritual discipline and is different from Hatha Yoga, a system of bodily postures. Yoga is much more than physical poses or positions. The goal of Yoga is to teach, through breath-control, how to still the mind and in the process attain a higher state of mental awareness and self-realization.
Standard Yoga Pose
Origin
The development of Yoga goes back as far as 5,000 years ago during the Indus Valley civilization. Over the centuries, various techniques of Yoga have been developed which are much simpler and less time consuming compared to the rigorous classical methods. Yoga was first introduced to the Western world by the devotees of Swami Vivekananda.
Students in Yoga Class
Benefits
The objective of classical Yoga was to create oneness in a person’s consciousness, self-actualization. Today, Western science is appreciating and providing some concrete clues supporting the benefits of Yoga towards improving health and keeping sickness at bay.
Sammy Mwatha is a committed Christian, Bible Teacher and Freelance Writer.
Deuteronomy 7:1-2: “When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations – the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you – and when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy.”
These enemies posed a serious physical threat, but the longer term danger was to their spiritual survival. God wanted these “Ites” completely destroyed because their worldly gods would continually pull at the heart of His chosen people; “Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods” (Deuteronomy 11:16).
