Question

What is the dictionary definition of yoga

Answer 1

[mass noun] A Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which, including breath control, simple meditation, and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practised for health and relaxation. ... 'A yogi, or yogin is one who practices yoga or who, in a more general sense, is a Hindu ascetic.'

Answer 2

The word ' yoga ' means ' unity ' or ' oneness ' and is derived from thes Sanskrit word 'yuj' which means 'to join' . This may be taken as the union of body , mind and soul , and is used in the literature both as an end as well as means . As an end , yoga signifies ' integration of personality at the highest level . As means , yoga includes various practices and techniques which are employed to achieve the development of such integration . These practices and techniques are means in the yogic literature and are also referred collectively as ' Yoga ' .

Yoga has been defined in many ways by different sages .

Patanjali , considered to be the father of yoga , defined it as ' yogah chitta vritti nirodhah ' which means ' yoga is the removal of fluctuations of mind' . Maharishi Vedvyas defined it as ' Yoga is attaining the pose'. According to Buddhism - 'Kushala chittaigata yogah' which means 'Yoga is the concentration of good thoughts'.