Did you know the term ’yoga’ is derived from the Sanskrit ‘yujir-yoge’? It means to join or unite; the joining of oneself with one true’s nature; to unite the body, mind and self.
The modern yoga we know originates from Yoga Sutras, one of the most important ancient Indian texts that organised and systemised yoga theory and practice. The author of these texts was Sage Patanjali who is believed to have lived between the 2nd and 4th century CE.
Patanjali structured yoga in eight components that if followed and practised should help bring us to our true nature, a state of equilibrium of the mind. That's what Ashtanga Yoga stands for: 'asht' - eight, 'anga' - limbs.
The physical postures, i.e. asana, practice that we tend to think of as yoga now, is just one of the eight limbs. But more on this in the next post!
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