The word "Yoga” in Sanskrit language means “to integrate” or “to unite”. This union is said to occur between body, mind, heart and soul. The practice of yoga, and its many approaches, is meant to awaken, integrate and create balance of mind, body, heart and spirit. The intention of yoga is to create the deepest levels of integration on all levels of being. Through Hatha Yoga, the most popular form of yoga, which approaches the process of integration through the body, uses various physical postures, breathing practices, etc. to create health, strength and well-being. Hatha Yoga is the most basic, or rudimentary form of yoga, making it accessible to everyone to begin the journey of yoga. With practice, Hatha Yoga combined with the practices of inward focus, concentration and meditative awareness, brings the deepest levels of relaxation, tranquility, joy and inner peace.

At Jewel of India we practice Amrit Yoga, created by yoga master Yogi Amrit Desai, which has its roots in Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga, or eight-limbs of yoga. Amrit yoga and Ashtanga yoga offer a complete system of yoga that addresses all level of being--the physical, mental, emotional, energetic (prana) and spiritual.

The sage Patanjali outlined the practice of Ashtanga Yoga (eight-limbs of yoga) in his classical treatise, the Yoga Sutras. Ashtanga Yoga is Patanjali's method for practice to awaken transcendent awareness and unveil spirit through deepening integrative states of unity consciousness. Yoga is not a religion, but it can be thought of as a universal method that can be practiced by anyone from any religious background.