Yoga is the name for a type of physical and mental practice that was originated in India and is a central practice for Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. The Sanskrit translation for “yoga” and thus its derivation probably comes from the word meaning “to unite.” Because yoga and its related practices have been central to many eastern religions for thousands of years, its difficult to pin down specific yoga facts and yoga history.

Yoga is tied very closely to meditation, a practice of mental discipline first believed to have originated with the ascetics responding to the Vedas of Hinduism. Yoga encompasses one of the six orthodox Hindu schools of philosophy, where it refers to a sort of cessation of thought, a mental muscle exercise that practices discipline of thought and relaxation of the mind. The Bhagavad Gita (“Song of the Lord”), a sacred Hindu text that is often followed devoutly, describes three types of yoga: action, devotion and knowledge.

Yoga history ties it most closely with Hinduism, but meditation and mental discipline has been an instrumental belief in Buddhism and Jainism as well, bringing popularity to meditation and yoga-related practices. Most Buddhists believe that yoga, for the Buddha, acts as a sort of metaphor for the freedom that comes with a peaceful death. In a way, yoga is a type of mental death that you can turn on and off. Through mental discipline, you can free your mind from the mental slavery that is believed to so thoroughly plague human beings. By experiencing mental liberation, you prepare yourself for enlightenment.

Throughout yoga history, six main types of yoga have been developed. They all roughly share the same virtues and goals, but all attain them in slightly different manners. The types of yoga, still practiced today, are Inyengar, Bikram (hot), Ashtanga, Jivamukti, Kundalini and, more recently, Power Yoga, which combines the values of aerobics and calisthenics with the relaxation properties of meditation and mental discipline. The differences between the types of yoga are mostly centered around a balance between being self-taught and being formally taught, adherence to strict positions and styles, and the importance of physical discipline versus mental discipline.

Most basic yoga facts and stylistic changes can be found online or through DVD teachings, although yoga purists swear by the power of a formal class teaching. Throughout yoga history, the importance of solo teaching versus formal teachings has flip-flopped tremendously. There are groups within Hinduism that believe yoga facts and practices are best learned by oneself and some who believe that a careful yoga history must be taught and practiced by the scriptures in order to achieve the highest possible enlightenment. Regardless, there is sure to be a type of yoga out there that is right for you and it’s simply a matter of doing a little research to find out which style suits your needs.