Yoga evolved over five thousand years ago in India. It can be seen as the evolution of the spiritual path, running in tandem with the development of major world religions Hinduism and Buddhism.
Yoga chooses a divine life force energy as the origin of all life in the universe. This energy is our true essence. Techniques developed over centuries that give humans the ability to understand and live through this life force, thus giving a new context to thoughts and emotions and the influence that we allow them to have on the way we live.

A revered sage Patanjali is credited with the first written descriptions of the values of yoga and the practical techniques that reveal the life force:


Ashtanga Yoga:
Yama - a code for society including Ahimsa, non-violence

Satya - truthfulness
Asteya - do not steal
Brahmacharya - right action
Aparigraha - non-coveting
Niyama - personal discipline, including Sauca - purity,. Santosa - contentment.
- Tapas - perseverance. Svadhaya - self study. Ishvara Pranidhana
- devotion to God.
Asana - yoga postures
Pranayama - regulation through breath of the pranic life-force.
Pratyahara - detachment os senses from external objects
Dharana - contemplation to one poined attention
Dhyana - meditation
Samadhi - absorption in the self.

Most yoga classes will focus on asana and will incorporate breathing and meditation. If yoga practice becomes your be all and end all you can develop an advanced standard of practice. This requires a sustained dedicated daily practice building great strength and capacity to tolerate very demanding levels in asana, pranayama and meditation.