Yoga​​

The Sanskrit (historical indo-aryan language) word yoga has the literal meaning of "yoke".

Yoke comes from the root yuj meaning to join, to unite, or to attach, a harness.

 

Spiritual teacher Ekanath Eswaran points out that although in a practical sense it signifies full health in body, mind and spirit, just as the word health carries the root meaning ‘’to be whole’’, this can sometimes be misleading; yoga does not mean union with components of personality like the body and the mind but complete identification with the Atman (in sanskrit means soul or true self), which uses body and mind as instruments.

 

Philosopher Bhoja, commented that yoga can really be called viyoga , ‘’disunion’’: the art of prying ourselves free from this sticky obsession that we are body and mind by realising who we truly are.

 

Ekath Eswaran explains that what Bhoja means is that when the true self is entirely freed from the limitations of body and mind , it attains the unitive state.

 

In the essence of the Bhagavad Gita (analysis of important Hindu scripture), Eknath Easwaran describes yoga as both end and the means, both the goal and the path: the state of unified consciousness and any of the various ways of realizing it (p.111)

 

Inspirational books :

A physiological handbook for teachers of yogasana by Mel Robin

The art of making sex sacred by Khalsa (Yogi Ji Press)

The essence of the Bhagvad Gita, by Eknath Easweran (Nilgiri)