Yoga is an ancient Indian spiritual path aimed at achieving union with the supreme consciousness. Yoga in the widest sense encompasses an entire spiritual and philosophical belief system in addition to physical practice, pranayama (breath control) and meditation. In the West, yoga is commonly understood to be about the practice of asanas (postures) and deep breathing to develop strength and flexibility and bring about weight loss. Yoga is certainly effective at doing these things, however regular practitioners generally find that their practice brings about subtle but powerful transformation in other areas such as making them more relaxed, better able to deal with stress and able to take a more philosophical view of life's disappointments, failures and pitfalls. For some, this awareness prompts an exploration of yoga's spiritual and philospohical sides and the development of a changed or alternative personal belief system.
