Introduction
The word ‘yoga’ derives from the Sanskrit yuj meaning to join or yoke, and it signifies the yoking or union of the individual with the Ultimate Reality. The practice of yoga involves the unification of the body with the whole of mind and spirit. This unification is achieved through performing breathing exercises, postures (asanas), and meditation.
When Westerners speak of yoga they are most likely referring to Hatha Yoga. Different schools (taken from the names of yoga guru leaders) exist within Hatha Yoga: Iyengar, Kripalu, Sidda, and Ashtanga. Each school emphasizes different aspects of the various postures or asanas, such as spinal extension, body alignment, and muscular balance.
More recently, studies have shown
that a yoga practice can greatly benefit one’s health, and medical practitioners
have come to recognize yoga as an effective way for many to help relieve
such problems as headaches, arthritis, back pain, and high blood pressure.
It is believed that as the body and mind are brought into balance and health,
the individual will be able to acknowledge their true nature; this will
allow life to be lived through them more freely and and spontaneously.
Scope
This pathfinder is designed to aid
adult users who are interested in learning more about yoga, and possibly
making the practice a part of their daily lives. The sources presented
should be appropriate for someone who has little or no knowledge about
the history, postures, breathing patterns, and meditation associated with
a yogic practice. Furthermore, these resources are fairly basic in nature,
and should allow the user to glean knowledge about religion, spirituality
and general health in the context of yoga without burdening them with too
much complexity. This pathfinder is primarily intended for use in an academic
library, and represents holdings in the Academic Affairs and Health Sciences
Libraries at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
This website was created by Smyth A. Lai on 11/11/01 for INLS 111
School of Information and Library Science
UNC-Chapel Hill