Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India to improve or develop one’s inherent power in a balanced manner. It offers the means to attain complete self-realization. Yoga is one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophical traditions. There is a broad variety of yoga schools, practices, and goals in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The literal meaning of the Sanskrit word Yoga is ’Yoke’. Yoga can therefore be defined as a means of uniting the individual spirit with the universal spirit of God. In the Western world the term "yoga" often denotes a modern form of Hatha yoga, yoga as exercise, consisting largely of the postures called asanas. The impact of postural yoga on physical and mental health has been a topic of systematic studies, with evidence that regular yoga practice yields benefits for low back pain and stress. In 2016, yoga was listed by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage.


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