Yoga (Sanskrit: योग), which literally means 'union

Yoga (Sanskrit: योग), which literally means 'union' is a group of ancient Indian spiritual practices aimed at integrating mind, body and soul and achieving a state of enlightenment or oneness with the supreme truth. Major texts on yoga include the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and the Shiva Samhita. The philosophies of yoga are universal and is not confined to any religion, nor does not it require any specific belief system to participate. Outside India, Yoga is mostly associated with the practice of asanas (postures) as a form of exercise. What is normally thought of as yoga in the West is really Hatha Yoga, one of the many paths of yoga. Different approaches and techniques of yoga lead to the same goal of unification and enlightenment or achievement of samadhi.

Due to oral transmission of sacred texts and the secretive nature of its teachings, it is difficult to trace roots of Yoga. The early writings on yoga were transcribed on fragile leaves (bhoj patra). The word yoga was first mentioned in the oldest sacred texts, the Rig Veda. Yoga was slowly refined and developed by the Brahmins and Rishis who documented their practices and beliefs in the Upanishads.

Patanjali's Yoga-Sutras, the first systematic presentation of yoga, were written some time in the second century. Patanjali organized the practice of yoga into an 'eight limbed path' (astang Yoga) containing the steps and stages towards obtaining Samadhi. Patanjali