Yoga is a spiritual practice of India, which dates back over 5,000 years. It is a healing practice that can help raise our conscious awareness as we move towards the Truth about who we are as Spirit and where we are going as we move from one cycle of existence to another. The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root "Yuj" meaning to yoke, attach, join, unite. Yoga is therefore, the union and integration of every aspect of a human being, from the innermost to the external. In a spiritual context, Yoga stands for "training" or "unitive discipline." The body/mind energy exchange supports mental clarity and concentration, while strengthening and balancing asanas improve posture and spinal alignment, to support our daily activities. The flexibility we gain helps to prevent injuries and keeps us supple and youthful. Breathing practices known as Pranayama are the foundation and the link between body, mind and Spirit, providing a valuable instrument for releasing tension, reducing stress and moving into tranquility. Yogi's believe, "We are only as old as our spine is flexible."

A regular practice of yoga and meditation teaches us how to quiet the mind by placing the attention on the breath, and also on the movement (stillness) of the body. Yoga is a form of meditation that links one to the Divine or the Universal Source.

Yoga Veda is rooted in Hatha Yoga
and follows the Ashtanga (Eight-Limb) Path of Raja Yoga.

Hatha (ha-meaning sun and tha-meaning moon) is a unitive discipline. The practice of Hatha Yoga strives to balance these two, contrary but complimentary, elements that represent the masculine and feminine (shiva/shakti) energy of the body. This branch of yoga uses physical poses, breathing techniques and relaxation methods to explore the inner landscape of the body, mind and Spirit. It provides the framework for the experience of physical, mental and spiritual wholeness, by combining asana (asa-meaning to be and na-meaning Divine Nature), heightened awareness and pranayama. Hatha Yoga prepares the body to move into tranquility allowing for Dyhana (meditation) on the Atman or inner Self. Through a regular practice of Yoga, we are able to focus our attention inward finding an integration of wisdom, harmony and compassion, affecting every aspect of our Being.

	The Yamas have (5) areas of focus
	• Ahimsa: non-violence • Satya: truthfulness • Asteya: non-stealing • Brahmacharya: sexual abstinence-celibacy • Aparigraha: non-covetousness

	The Niyamas have (5) areas of focus
	• Saucha: purity • Santosha: contentment • Tapas: heat; spiritual austerities • Svadhyaya: study of sacred texts or oneself through reflection • Isvara Pranidhana: meditation-surrender to the Divine

	The purpose of Asana is to remove the pain and toxicity in the body so as to be able to sit comfortably in meditation. Asana seeks a state of relaxation to take everything as it comes and removes the struggle that occurs from the dualistic state of the mind.
	There are various specific practices of Pranayama, that enable the practitioner to achieve magnificent mental clarity and physical health. Through Pranayama practice, we learn to control the body and mind by controlling the breath. We can strengthen the energy within, as well as, making the energy more peaceful. It is said that "Who controls the breath, controls the mind."
	When the mind is not drawn outward by the senses for pleasure or stimulation, Pratyahara has been achieved. Pratyahara means withdrawing from the senses. More accurately, it means to transcend the senses so they don’t influence us in a way that prevents us from reaching Samadhi, or enlightenment.
	Dharana is the ability to concentrate without deviation or distraction at any place outside or inside the body. This practice alone enables one to experience deep altered states of consciousness as the full capacity of the mind is put into focus.
	By the concentrated efforts of Dharana on the space of pure consciousness, the wave of the mind (chitta vrittis) slowly comes to a rest and perceives what is. This is known as the turiya state, a transcendence of the “I am” mind into the state of the oneness of all existence.
	Samadhi is an indescribable state, as there is no you or any other, just oneness, pure dissolution of the ego, intellect and separate mind as the light of knowledge.  It is the experience of being in the presence of The Divine, as one with Him is realized.