Many of us ponder the questions, 

"Who am I?"

"Where am I going?" 

"What is my purpose is life?" 

The desire to know the answers are planted deep in the soul. Some people dismiss the thoughts but others embark upon a journey that will reveal the answers. Of the many teachings that point towards these answers, yoga is among the oldest.

Yoga is a Sanskrit word that means 'to yoke' or 'to unite' and in its broadest sense refers to the union of body, mind and soul. In modern society we often find ourselves rushed, stressed and pulled in different directions, which leads to the disintegration of the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of our being. The more specific meaning of yoga then is an approach towards harnessing the various aspects of our existence in order to move into the space where we feel whole - and at one with the whole of existence. This space or state of consciousness has many names (God, oneness, self-realisation, bliss, awakening, samadhi) but the space is one.

Yoga is not a religion in the way that we perceive Christianity, Hinduism or Islam as religions. The discipline was developed thousands of years ago by rishis (sages) in India who were seeking to experience the ultimate state of existence and self-realisation - pure bliss, awakening.

Practicing yoga increases awareness of the body, develops physical strength and flexibilty, calms the mind, soothes the soul, develops mindfulness of the intimate relationship between body, mind, soul and the breath and encourages connectedness. When the breath is deep, smooth and rhythmical, the mind becomes calm, the body can relax and the soul is at ease and we are content in the present moment - at peace. Now union with oneness is possible and healing can take place. When the mind is active or anxious the body becomes tense, the breath becomes uneven and short and the soul can be at dis-ease. Think about the word disease…by nourishing body, mind and soul, yoga promotes health and healing and cultivates inner peace and mental clarity in order to take on the challenges of daily life.