Yoga is a part of Hinduism and started with Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva used yoga practice for means of meditation and his followers meditated as a way to clean thoughts and develop the inner body and help our inner body systems function to the best levels possible. Yoga in Hinduism teaches spirituality through the mind and body. It is the oldest form of spirituality (asnas) in the world. During this time period, the simple life and nature were stressed.
When you do meditation in yoga you chant OM and most other religions think that you are praying to Lord Shiva but it is not true. Yoga is a meditative form that uses breathing to get anxiety out of your system and helps to expand your positive energies. It is best to practice in the mornings before starting the day as we do in prayer or in the evenings before ending the day as we often do in prayer. It’s a spiritual connection with our souls and God. In yoga, they also teach you the same beliefs as Hindu principles of compassion, kindness, simplicity, and awareness. One learns to practice on an empty stomach so that one can breathe correctly and exercise their muscles without doing damage to the body. Because yogic practices rely completely on breathing exercises, one is able to affect the body and mind in a positive way: weight loss, better organ functions, less stress, etc… Yoga is a practice and belief. You have to believe in its higher power and practice, practice, practice.
There are different forms of yogas and no matter which form used all relate to breath and mind.
After routine yoga practices, one begins to feel at peace with your inner self and everything around you. It can even cure restlessness and give you sound sleep. It is the same peace that comes when one attends any spiritual retreat.
In yoga and Hinduism, as in any religion, it connects the mind, body, and soul.
It helps one subject themselves to a higher power. People in Hinduism practice yoga on a daily basis to get rid of their materialistic and animal nature. Additionally, Hinduism originally believed in yogic practice as a form of aiding the body with medical problems which is today adopted by many other cultures. In Hinduism, prayers, chants, songs, and meditation is a vital part of the religion. Yoga is a complementary form of Hinduism as much of the same exists during practice. The basis of it started with religious influences and has spread to cultural influences today.
