Yoga is a discipline to improve or develop one’s inherent powers in a balance3d manner. It offers the means to reach complete self-realization. The literal meaning of the Sanskrit word Yoga is ‘Yoke’. Accordingly, Yoga can be defined as a means for uniting the individual spirit with the universal spirit of God. According to maharishi Patanjali Yoga is the suppression of modifications of the mind.

Salient Features of Yoga
Yoga, a universal practical discipline: Yoga is universal in character for practice and application irrespective of culture, nationality, race, caste of creed, sex age and physical condition. It is a practical discipline. Neither by reading the texts nor talking about it, nor by wearing the grab of an ascetic one can become an accomplish Yogi. Without practice there is neither experience of the utility of Yogic techniques nor realization of their inherent potential. Only, regular practice (sadhana) creates a pattern in the body and mind of uplift them. It requires keen desire on the part of the practitioner to experience the higher states of consciousness through mind training and refining the gross consciousness.

Literally “Sadhana” or Sadhan is the form of discipline by the regular practice of whose techniques something is accomplished or more precisely “means to an end”. It is sadhana, which make the realization of the self or the spiritual experience possible.

Yoga as evolutionary process: Yoga is an evolutionary process, a process in the development of human consciousness. Flowering of total conscious evolution does not necessarily begin in any particular man rather it begins only if one chooses it to begin. The vices like use of alcohol and drugs, working exhaustively, indulging too much in sex and other stimulation is to seek oblivion, a return to unconsciousness. Indian yogis begin from the point where western psychology end. If the Fraud’s psychology is psychology of diseases and Maslow’s psychology is psychology of the healthy man. Indian psychology is the psychology of enlightenment. In Yoga it is not a question of psychology of man rather, it is a question of higher consciousness. It is not also the question of mental health, rather, it is question of spiritual growth.

Man has to be accepted in his totality. He needs to be simultaneously trained in reasoning, emotions, doubt and faith also. Yogic practices are an attempt to push an individual towards his own inner evolution, the ultimate realization of his potential.

Yoga as soul therapy: All paths of Yoga (jnana, karma, bhakti etc.) have healing potential to shelter out the effects of the pains which come in life. However, one essentially needs proper guidance from an accomplish exponent who has already treaded the same track to reach the ultimate goal. The particular path is to be chosen very cautiously in view of his aptitude and potential either with the help of a competent counsellor of consulting an accomplished Yogi.