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Although the term 'yoga' is popularly known as a physical set of exercises and poses, the actual meaning of 'yoga' is quite different. Yoga literally means union. To practice 'yoga' means to practice union of consciousness.
The exercises and poses known as Yoga are traditionally called asanas which are used as preparation for meditation. Asanas are a subsection of Hatha Yoga which is a subsection of the Vedic Wisdom called Yoga.
What exactly is the 'union' experienced through yoga?
Through meditation a yogi may experience the underlying reality of existence which is transcendental to all sensory experience. This transcendental, unbounded experience of pure consciousness may be known as union with the Self, or union with the Unified Field of all the laws of nature.
How to practice Yoga?
Through correct meditation you can learn to experience deeper and deeper levels of your mind, until you transcend thought completely and experience the ultimate reality of pure consciousness. The process of transcending is natural to the human mind since the mind naturally seeks fields of greater charm and since deeper levels of consciousness are experienced as unbounded bliss consciousness.
Research has shown that one technique, The Transcendental Meditation Technique, actually produces the unique neurophysiology and brainwave coherence that is associated with the experience of Yoga.
Why don't other meditation techniques work?
Unfortunately, most meditation techniques on the market are either concentration or contemplation techniques that keep the mind on the active level of thinking so they do not produce that transcendental experience of union which is "yoga". Many meditation techniques do not even intend to allow the mind to transcend.
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