Introduction
Yoga is one of the most ancient cultural heritage of India. The word yoga in Sanskrit means "to unite", and so yoga can be said to connote a unitive discipline. In this sense it is an exercise in moral and mental cultivation that generates good health , contributes to longevity, and the total intrinsic discipline culminates into positive and perennial happiness and peace. Therefore, yoga is the said to be indispensable of the ultimate accomplishment in life. It is a science that affects not only the conscious self but the subconscious as well. It is a practical physiological training , which if practiced can exalt man to the 'supra mundane level'.

benefits of Yoga

• Brings balance and harmony to the body, mind and spirit.

• Helps with strength, flexibility range of motion and balance

• Calms the mind, Reduces stress and anxiety

• Revitalizes the body and mind

• Slows heart rate

• Lowers blood pressure

• Increases circulation

• Strengthens and tones muscles

• Helps to detoxify system

• Improves function of internal organs

• Balances muscular system

• Increases metabolism and energy

• Can help reduce depression, stress and insomnia

Type of Yoga

There are many different types of yoga, and it is important to choose a form that is appropriate for each individual's level of fitness, goals, and medical condition. Some of the most popular and widely available forms are briefly explained below.

Iyengar yoga
This type of yoga focuses on proper alignment and precise movements. Props such as blocks or straps are often used as part of Iyengar yoga for those who are not as flexible or to compensate for injuries. Because of this attention to detail and the modification of poses, Iyengar yoga is often a good form of yoga for people with back pain or neck pain, as they are likely to benefit from modification to the poses.

Ashtanga yoga
This form is commonly called "power yoga" because it focuses on powerful flowing movements, such as push-ups and lunges, which take strength and stamina. Ashtanga yoga may be appropriate for those who have successfully rehabilitated from a back injury and are looking for a more strenuous practice, and people who are already athletic, such as runners and cyclists, who want to add flexibility, balance and concentration to their exercise routines.

Bikram yoga
This form is also known as "hot yoga" because it is done in a very warm room. Bikram yoga is excellent for increasing flexibility because the heat helps tissues to stretch. This type of yoga is not appropriate for those with cardiovascular disease because of the strain placed on the body when vigorously exercising in the heat.

Viniyoga
This form links breath and movement in flowing exercises that are adapted to each individual. Viniyoga is often a good form of yoga for those with back problems or neck problems because it is easily adapted for each person.

Ashtanga Yoga,  The Eight Limps of Yoga

Ashtanga Yoga or the Eight-Limbed Yoga means to purify the mind through eight (Asht) steps.  These limbs represent all the aspects of the system.  Each step in Ashtanga Yoga has to be mastered before mastering the next can be successfully attempted :

• Yama (control) : nonviolence, truth, honesty, sexual continence, forbearance, fortitude, kindness, straightforwardness, moderation in diet, bodily purity.
  
• Niyama (rules of conduct) : austerity, contentment, belief in God, charity, worship of God, study of teachings and scriptures, modesty, having a discerning mind, repetition of prayers (japa), observance of vows and performing sacrifices.
• Asanas (postures) : as a motionless body makes the mind quiet, 48 postures have been described of which at the least one must be mastered if one is to reach a deep state of meditation. See also asanas in Hatha Yoga
• Pranayama (control of breath) : inhalation, holding the breath, exhalation … through 3 kinds of muscular control (bandhas).
• Pratyahara (withdrawal of sensory perceptions) : consisting of breath suspension and holding the mind, that step by step absorbs the senses in Kundalini energy.
• Dharana (concentration) : by the aid of mantras in Ashtanga Yoga, deep concentration on the six subtle centers of the chakras, starting from the first and gradually approaching the seventh.
• Dhyana (uninterrupted mediation) : in which the ego, the mind and the intellect dissolve in Kundalini and Kundalini dissolves in the supreme consciousness.
• Samadhi (complete equilibrium) : the individual consciousness becomes pure consciousness. After a prolonged state of samadhi there is no need to practice Ashtanga yoga any longer, because the conscious connection with the divine is everlasting.