Originated in India around 7000 years ago, yoga is still practiced by people all over the world with tremendous enthusiasm. Patanjali, a sage, developed a set of asanas(yogic postures) and pranayama(meditation) in 5000 BC to lead a better life in contemplation of God. Hermits and sages took to yoga as it gave them strong bodies and resolute minds to contemplate and meditate on God. The principles of yoga are inscribed on palm leaves and are a part of the vedas(a set of ancient Indian religious texts).

The meaning of the Sanskrit word yoga is 'unite. The aim of yoga is to keep the body and the mind in harmony and unite the individual soul with the universal soul. Practiced for spiritual purposes initially, it gained poplularity for its physical mental benefits later on. The highest stage of yoga is, samadhi- a state of constant bliss. But these days hardly anybody strives for that. Most are satisfied with its health benefits.

India being a land with a lot of spiritual leaning, nurtured yoga through the ages. As mentioned earlier the aim was to make one capable of sitting for longer hours of meditation . The seekers of truth were interested to find the mystery behind life. Yoga was supposed to facilitate that by promoting vigorous physical and mental health.

The myths sorrounding yoga need to be busted here. Its not hocus pocus. Yoga does not enable one to fly in the air. Yoga is also not about striking impossible postures. Yoga does not yield magical powers to its practtioners. There are some sages in India believed to have obtained super natural powers like the budhist monks. But those are rare instances and the power comes after years of dedicated practice.

Today yoga stands for a set of physical exercises(asanas) and meditation(pranayama) that promote good health. Yoga does not stop there. The principles of yoga also require a practtioner to modify character by shedding hatred, anger, greed, excessive desire etc. Yoga aims at developing a well rounded personality.