The Connection Between Yoga and Meditation

The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root "yuj" meaning to unite or to yoke. It refers to the union of individual consciousness with universal consciousness. In this sense, all genuine spiritual practice is Yoga.

Meditation is not separate from Yoga — it is the inner dimension of Yoga. When the physical practices (asanas) prepare the body, and the breath practices (pranayama) calm the nervous system, the ground is set for meditation to arise naturally.

Misunderstanding Yoga in the Modern World

Modern Yoga studios often focus exclusively on the physical postures. While this has immense benefits for the body, it is only one of the eight limbs described by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras.