Meaning of term yoga

The term “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit word “yuj,” which means to yoke, unite, or join. In the context of yoga, this refers to the union of the individual self (jivatman) with the universal self (paramatman) or the divine consciousness. Yoga is a holistic practice that aims to bring about this union by integrating the body, mind, and spirit through various practices such as physical postures (asanas), breath control (pranayama), meditation, and ethical guidelines for living (yamas and niyamas). The ultimate goal of yoga is to achieve a state of self-realization, where the practitioner experiences a sense of oneness with the universe and the divine.