The meaning of the word
"Yoga" comes from the Sanskrit root yuj, which means to join, yoke or unite, the same image as yoking oxen to a cart. Over time it came to mean both the discipline that unites and steadies the mind, and the state of union or stillness that results.
Yoga meaning in Hindi: योग का अर्थ है जोड़ या मिलन। शरीर, साँस और मन को एक साथ जोड़ना, और मन को स्थिर करना, योग कहलाता है।
Classic definitions of yoga
| Source | Definition | Simple meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Yoga Sutras 1.2 | Yogash chitta vritti nirodhah (योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः) | Yoga is the stilling of the movements of the mind |
| Bhagavad Gita 2.48 | Samatvam yoga uchyate (समत्वं योग उच्यते) | Evenness of mind is called yoga |
| Bhagavad Gita 2.50 | Yogah karmasu kaushalam (योगः कर्मसु कौशलम्) | Yoga is skill in action |
"Yogah karmasu kaushalam" explained
In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna tells Arjuna that yoga is skill or excellence in action. In context, the skill is acting fully and well while letting go of anxious attachment to the results. It is one of the best-known lines about yoga, and it is the motto of several Indian institutions. It reminds us that yoga is not only something done on a mat: it is a way of working, studying and living with attention and balance.
Origin and history
| Period | What happened |
|---|---|
| Ancient India | Ideas of disciplined meditation and breath control appear in the Upanishads. Some scholars link seated figures on Indus Valley seals to early yoga, though this is debated. |
| Classical period | The Bhagavad Gita describes several paths of yoga. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras organise yoga into eight limbs; scholars date the text variously, often around the early centuries CE. |
| Medieval period | Hatha yoga texts, such as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (around the 15th century), detail postures, breathing and cleansing practices. |
| Modern era | Teachers such as T. Krishnamacharya, Swami Sivananda and B.K.S. Iyengar, and institutions in Mumbai, Lonavala and Pune, spread yoga across India and the world. See yoga institutes. |
| Today | UNESCO added yoga to its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2016, and the UN marks International Day of Yoga on 21 June. |
The four main paths of yoga
- Raja yogaThe path of meditation and mental discipline, based on Patanjali's eight limbs.
- Karma yogaThe path of selfless action, central to the Bhagavad Gita.
- Bhakti yogaThe path of devotion.
- Jnana yogaThe path of knowledge and self-inquiry.
Hatha yoga, the physical practice most people know today, grew as a means of preparing the body and breath for meditation.
The eight limbs in brief
Patanjali describes yoga in eight limbs (ashtanga): ethical restraints (yama), personal observances (niyama), posture (asana), breath control (pranayama), withdrawal of the senses (pratyahara), concentration (dharana), meditation (dhyana) and absorption (samadhi). Postures are only one of the eight. See how they lead to meditation in yoga vs meditation.
Yoga today
Modern yoga usually combines postures, breathing and relaxation, with styles ranging from gentle Hatha and therapy-focused classes to vigorous Vinyasa and Ashtanga. Research supports benefits for flexibility, balance, stress and some kinds of back pain. See benefits of yoga, or start with yoga for beginners.
What is yoga: common questions
What is the meaning of yoga?
Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning to join or unite. It refers to a discipline for steadying the body, breath and mind, and to the state of balance it leads to.
What is the meaning of yoga in Hindi?
योग का अर्थ है जोड़ या मिलन, यानी शरीर, साँस और मन को जोड़ना और मन को स्थिर करना।
What is the definition of yoga according to Patanjali?
"Yogash chitta vritti nirodhah": yoga is the stilling of the movements of the mind (Yoga Sutras 1.2).
What does "yogah karmasu kaushalam" mean?
"Yoga is skill in action," from the Bhagavad Gita (2.50): acting well and fully, without anxious attachment to results.
Where did yoga originate?
In ancient India. Its ideas appear in the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita, were organised in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, and the physical practices were developed in later hatha yoga texts.
Who is the father of yoga?
Patanjali is often called the father of classical yoga for compiling the Yoga Sutras. In tradition, Lord Shiva is honoured as Adiyogi, the first yogi. T. Krishnamacharya is often called the father of modern yoga.
What are the main types of yoga?
The four classic paths are Raja, Karma, Bhakti and Jnana yoga. Hatha yoga is the physical practice that most modern styles come from.
Last updated 24 October 2026. This guide is for general education and is not medical advice.