Most people approach yoga as a fitness , a way to lose weight / recover, develop flexibility, improve health. In this respect, there is nothing wrong, just be aware that you are covering only the surface, the "skin" of yoga. It is with the development of the flexibility and strength of the muscles that the understanding of the philosophy of yoga should begin, but, alas, in the majority of the 40 million people engaged in yoga, "enlightenment" has not yet come.
Mentality and breathing
If to speak, anatomically, the next level of yoga comprehension is mentality, breathing, lifestyle change. This is the flesh and blood of yoga. We improve our physical form, learn to feel our body, feel it. With such changes, we necessarily change the notion of morality, a sense of duty, a style of communication with people.
Yoga rod
But the Indian philosophy of yoga goes even deeper, you can say "the soul is climbing." Its core is a profound transformation of personality , through the realization of its divine nature, the transcendence of human nature.
However, in order to understand this deep philosophy of yoga, you need to understand the culture of ancient India.
So, looking at the translation of the term "yoga" only, we face a literal translation of "spiritual discipline". In Hinduism, yoga is like mysticism among Christians or bondage in Judaism.
In India, it is believed that the world is multi-faceted, it in its entirety is "Brahman" - a manifestation of transcendence. Our reality, our earthly world is just one of the visible sides of the world.
In Raja yoga, the relationship between man and nature is explained. It is the "I" and the "cosmos", the two opposing causes of the Reality. In principle, yoga can be considered by the soul back to its pristine nature. Eliminating the alienation of man, yoga gives an opportunity to return to its truth a comprehensive nature that does not know the facets of the body and localities.