It is not a religion, although some people use yoga to achieve spiritual enlightenment. It is not calisthenics, although it does exercise, stretch, and strengthen the body. Yoga is a system of exercises designed to improve the body's physical health and clear the mind.
Many different types of yoga exist, each with its own philosophies and practices. Some yogas are meditative and focused on spiritual centeredness, while others are more physical and are based on poses, or exercises, called asanas. The history of yoga goes back at least five thousand years. Yogic philosophy was codified around 200 AD by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutra.
The most common type of yoga taught in the West is hatha yoga[?]. Hatha, a Sanskrit word that means "sun" (ha) and "moon" (tha), represents the opposing energies--hot and cold, male and female, positive and negative, yin and yang. Yoga, translated from yuga, the Sanskrit word for yoke, means union. Hatha yoga attempts to balance the mind and body through physical exercises (Poise, Balance & Strength), controlled breathing and the calming of the mind through relaxation & meditation.
Some modern schools and styles of Yoga:
see also tantra
Some modern teachers of Yoga:
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