About Yoga
Yoga, a universal culture
Yoga is a timeless and eternal world culture representing the individual’s need to evolve and transcend limitations.Yoga is not to be confused or viewed as a form of gymnastics, prayer, ritual, or religious belief. Nor is yoga limited to any one culture, tradition or religion. Yoga is a secular and systematic process to experience the highest states of consciousness; it is the universal desire for spirituality, for transcendence. The spirit of yoga unites the different world religions, philosophies and cultures in a common bond of humanity, well-being and global movement towards spiritual evolution. People across the world are turning to yoga to achieve better health, peace of mind, joy and spiritual upliftment.

Yoga – the origin
Yoga developed at the beginning of human civilisation, as a natural urge, a natural curiosity to explore and experience the body and mind. As soon as the individual became aware of the different and subtler realms of experience and consciousness, and of inner spiritual states, techniques began to develop to train and evolve the body and mind to be able to experience those transcendental states.
The Indian sages evolved and perfected a tradition of self-observation to explore the inner being. Cultivating intuition, they discovered many secrets of life. Passing on the knowledge through the guru–disciple relationship (orally), the vast knowledge of yoga unfolded over generations as a living tradition and science. Thus over the centuries various schools of techniques and philosophies formed and became established in a systematic way.

Yoga philosophy
The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit word yuj which means to unite. In practice, yoga is a step-by-step build-up of techniques that develop and transform the personality. For the practitioner, yoga develops health and vitality. It provides the strength to handle the everyday challenges of life while bringing harmony and balance to the individual and the environment. It develops wellbeing while removing stress, tension and anxiety, on physical, mental and emotional levels. As one deepens their practice, one starts to awaken the dormant potential within, culminating in the final aim and purpose of yoga, UNION, described as liberation, transcendence, samadhi, nirvana or mukti. There are many beautiful philosophies in the world but yoga is the system that tells you how to get the experience.

Satyanandashram is a non-profit organization and receives no government funding. Programs and activities are open to members. Contributions and donations cover the running costs and go towards the philanthropic work of Satyananda Math to assist those in need. Contributions are non-refundable and non-transferable. Programs are subject to change without notice. Booking is essential to secure your place.
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