Definition
Yoga is an ancient tradition originating in India and is derived from a Sanskrit word meaning “to yoke” or “to unite” (Desikachar, 1999). In Western culture, yoga is considered a form of physical activity and, more recently, a mind-body intervention designed to support overall health and well-being. In its full expression, yoga integrates three basic components: breath (pranayama), physical poses (asanas), and meditation (dhyana).
Description
Origins
Yogic philosophy traces back to 3000 BCE, with roots spanning four periods known as the Vedic (2000–600 BC), Preclassical (600–200 BC), Classical (200 BC), and Postclassical periods (Feuerstein, 2001). The Preclassical period is associated with the emergence of the Upanishads (200 texts influencing Hindu philosophy) and the creation of the Bhagavad Gita, considered to be among yoga’s oldest written texts. It was during this time that the foundations of meditation and the concept of samadhi(a path to enlightenment) surfaced...
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Buttner, M.M.A. (2013). Yoga. In: Gellman, M.D., Turner, J.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_621
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_621
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
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