Four Parts of Classical Yoga

Yoga is not meant to be merely physical or mental exercise for health or stress relief. It is a short-term goal only. Its long-term goal is to transform your mind and body, by overcoming the natural limitations and deficiencies, which Nature imposes upon you. Through yoga, you can take your life and destiny into your hands and create a new beginning for yourself. With the help of yoga, you can elevate your conduct and consciousness and become a better human being or a pure being. You can hasten your physical, mental, and spiritual evolution by dealing with the causes which interfere with your thinking, perception, and behavior. While you have little control over your natural birth, you have control over your spiritual birth in which you emerge from a state of impurity and imperfection to purity and perfection. Yoga empowers you to achieve this goal through self-effort. Just as any other philosophical school in Hinduism, the ultimate purpose of the system of Yoga is to overcome ex...