Yoga

Lotus position

Yoga is one of the six orthodox systems of Indian philosophy. It aims to free the soul from repeated transmigration and unite it to the Supreme Being. The name is cognate with "yoke", and means "union".

In English-speaking countries, yoga usually refers to Hathi Yoga. In this, the emphasis is on physical preparation for spiritual advancement. It is a series of asanas, or poses, that are intended to maintain bodily flexibility and achieve mental and physical control, resulting in relaxation and inner peace.

The purpose of the poses is to train someone to remain motionless in an unnatural position, freeing the mind from concern with the body or its functions. Achieving this is the third of the eight stages required to reach samadhi, a trance-like state of perfect concentration and unawareness of the body.

There are at least 32 asanas. The best-lnown is the lotus or padmasana, sitting with the legs crossed and the arms relaxed at the sides of the body with the palms facing outwards. Ideally, the outer edge of each foot should be on top of the thigh of the opposite leg. However, few people are flexible enough to do this easily. Forcing the legs into this position has been known to cause damage to the knee joints.

While systematic adoption of yoga poses has benefited many people, careless use can lead to a variety of problems, ranging from back pain to aggravation of glaucoma. Expert tuition and adequate preparation are highly advisable.