Yoga
Sanskrit for “union,” refers to one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy that describes the path to enlightenment (or knowledge of God). Hindu texts establishing the basis for yoga include the Upanishads, the Bhagavad-Gita, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and many others. In India, Yoga is seen as a means to both physiological and spiritual mastery. Since the Bhagavad Gita was written, the main branches of Yoga have been classified as: Hatha Yoga (attaining enlightenment through asanas (postures) and breath control), Karma Yoga (attaining enlightenment through good works), Jnana Yoga (attaining enlightenment through wisdom), Bhakti Yoga (attaining enlightenment through devotion), and Raja Yoga (attaining enlightenment through a balanced spiritual life that has meditation as its hub). Outside India, Yoga has become primarily associated with Hatha Yoga, though Raja Yoga has been popularized in the West by Paramahansa Yogananda.