Yoga is considered to be India’s most ancient cultural gift to people. The word Yoga in the Sankskrit language literally means Unity", which can be interpreted as meaning the uniting of discipline.

Practitioners of Yoga aim to nurture "arogya", which is the cultivation of mental and moral advancement so as to improve the total wellbeing of the person. Yogic exercise also cultivates "chirayu", which is longevity. Yoga in its whole is designed to develop inner peace and positive, perennial happiness. As such, Yoga is thought of as being essential for an individual's ultimate completion in life.

Yoga is really a type of science that not only affects the consciousness of oneself, but also one's subconscious. Yoga's physiological training practice (Kriya Yoga) when done correctly, can raise students to a supra-mundane level.

Yoga shows people how to embrace life. It teaches mental discipline and self-development and brings forth the noble in any being, thus removing the ignoble in any human. Yoga is pertinent to all beings irrespective of their belief system, race, religious inclination and sex. There is no doubt that everyone can benefit from Yogic techniques – the healthy and the sick, the good and the bad, the believer and the non-believer, the educated and the ignorant and the old and the young. Age is irrelevent; anyone can reap the advantages of Yoga.

Yoga began when wandering Hindu monks sought solitude in the forests to practice contemplative techniques. These monks (Yogis) passed on their knowledge with keen students who resided at Hindu hermitages. The Yogis were very guarded when it came to the teching of Yoga, and they did not think about popularizing the techniques. Yogic postures along with the different stages of the Yogic techniques were only passed on to students that deserved them, so the practice of Yoga remained in remote caves and forests and was not shown to anyone but the Yogis and their students.

Practicing Yogic techniques (like the Asana - a sitting posture) helps blood circulation. Other techniques (like Pranayama - breathing exercises) reduce carbon dioxide in the body, ensuring good health: Yoga provides a world of benefits to people.

Many doctors prescribe shower baths, steam baths, air baths and sun baths to maintain blood purity and toxin removal. Yogis have developed the "Neti" (nasal cleansing), the "Dhouti" (stomach cleansing) and the "Vajroli" (purging of the intestines, reproductive organs and bladder).

Yoga can also have major benefits on one’s nervous system. Its physiological components are non-tiring and also bring about composure of the mind and body. Almost every other style of exercise concentrates more on muscle work whereas Yoga focuses on looking after every part of the being’s anatomy.

Yoga is not some "reach down and touch your feet" technique: for example, asanas is an all over therapy that impacts one’s physical and spiritual body function.

Yoga's effects are:

- Physical – through healing, relaxing, stretching and strengthening the muscular, skeletal, cardiovascular, nervous and digestive systems.
- Spiritual – the preparation of contemplation.
- Mental – developing a tranquil and quiet mind, concentration and alertness.

Yoga really offers something for anyone.