Yoga (Sanskrit: योग) is a commonly known generic term for the physical, mental, and spiritualpractices or disciplines which originated in ancient India with a view to attain a state of permanent peace.[1][2] Specifically, yoga is one of the six āstika ("orthodox") schools of Hindu philosophy. One of the most detailed and thorough expositions on the subject is the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali, which defines yoga as "the stilling of the changing states of the mind"[3](Sanskrit: योग: चित्त-वृत्ति निरोध:). Yoga has also been popularly defined as "union with the divine" in other contexts and traditions.[4] Various traditions of yoga are found in Buddhism,Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism.[5][6][7]
Post-classical traditions consider Hiranyagarbha as the originator of yoga.[8][9] Pre–philosophical speculations and diverse ascetic practices of first millennium BCE were systematized into a formal philosophy in early centuries CE by the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.[10] By the turn of the first millennium, Hatha yoga emerged as a prominent tradition of yoga distinct from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras and marks the development ofasanas into the full body postures now in popular usage[11] and, along with its many modern variations, is the style that many people associate with the word yoga today.
Hindu monks, beginning with Swami Vivekananda, brought yoga to the West in the late 19th century. In the 1980s, yoga became popular as a system of physical exercises across the Western world. Many studies have tried to determine the effectiveness of yoga as a complementary intervention for cancer, schizophrenia, asthma and heart patients. In a national survey, long-term yoga practitioners in the United States reported musculo–skeletal and mental health improvements.[12]
As opposed to the traditional practice, physical focus on yoga became popular in the West beginning in the second half of the 20th century, and is often referred to simply as "Hatha Yoga" in the context of yoga as physical exercise.
