According to yoga sutra by Patanjali, yoga is the dissolution of the modification of the mind-field (1.2).

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If you take a closer look, our sufferings is caused by the mind, the mind clutter is creating all the misery and sufferings.  The mind creates fear, comparison, competition, anger, jealousy, worry..., a lot of dramas stopping us to live life as is, to taste the purity and simplicity of life, the sweetness and beauty of life.  That’s why we need to learn to master the mind.

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How?

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There are eight limbs in yoga practice according to Patanjali:

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1.  Yamas (restraints)

2.  Niyamas (observances)

3.  Asana (steady posture)

4.  Pranayama (expansion of life force/vital energy)

5.  Pratyahara (withdrawal of senses from objects)

6.  Dharana (concentration)

7.  Dhyana (meditation)

8.  Samadhi (enlightenment / blissful state)

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Most people thought asana (yoga posture) is yoga, yoga is asana.  But you can see from above asana is just a small part in yoga.  Asana is a preparation for us to go deeper into other practices.  Imagine if the body is not relaxed and comfortable, if there is tightness and pain here and there, how can a person stay focus and meditate?

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Asana practice works on our joints, muscles, cardiovascular system, nervous system…and other subtle levels of the body.  It strengthens the body, increases flexibility, improves our concentration, purifies our energies and emotions, removes tightness and blockages, etc. to prepare the body to sit for meditation.  In fact, when we are very watchful in asana practice, we are already in a meditative state during asana practice.

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Pranayama is also a very important practice in yoga.  Prana means our vital force, the energy behind the breath.  Ayama means expansion.  Pranayama means activating our vital energies, expanding our consciousness for a deeper yogic experience.  There are various pranayama practices, in simple terms, they all share the same ultimate goal, to purify the body and energies, and eventually silence the mind.

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When we sit in meditation, we further cultivate our awareness and acceptance.  We stay watchful to all happenings, keep watching the body, the breath, the thoughts and emotions.  We simply stay watchful without responding, analyzing, judging.  When we practise with devotion and sincerity, gradually the mind is under our control, we become master of the mind.

And we realize we are not the thoughts, we are not the emotions, we are not the body.  We realize we are pure consciousness, we are bliss.

This is yoga.

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