Yoga, derived from the Sanskrit root Yuj, means “to unite.” It is the union of the body with the mind, the mind with the soul, and the soul with the universal consciousness.
The first references to yoga appear over 5,000 years ago in the Rig Veda, evolving later through the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita. However, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras (circa 200 BCE) gave yoga its structured philosophy the Ashtanga Yoga, or the Eight Limbs of Yoga.
1. Yama
– Moral discipline
2. Niyama
– Self-discipline
3. Asana
– Posture
4. Pranayama
– Breath control
5. Pratyahara
– Withdrawal of senses
6. Dharana
– Concentration
7. Dhyana
– Meditation
8. Samadhi
– Union or enlightenment
Modern yoga has grown to include many forms Hatha, Ashtanga, Kundalini, Vinyasa, Yin, and more but the essence remains the same: to realize who you truly are. At Swaroop Yogic Life, we teach yoga as a way of living consciously, not just moving gracefully.
Yoga is not escape it is return. Return to the self that has always been whole.
Swaroop Yogic Life (SYL) is a traditional yoga and meditation school based in Rishikesh, Himalaya. The school was founded in 2010 by Acharya Prem Swaroop Ji (legally known as Sanjeet Laljeet Prasad).
