yoga

noun (sometimes initial capital letter)

1. a school of Hindu philosophy advocating and prescribing a course of physical and mental disciplines for attaining liberation from the material world and union of the self with the Supreme Being or ultimate principle.
2. any of the methods or disciplines prescribed, especially a series of postures and breathing exercises practiced to achieve control of the body and mind, tranquillity, etc.
3. union of the self with the Supreme Being or ultimate principle.

noun (often capital)

1. a Hindu system of philosophy aiming at the mystical union of the self with the Supreme Being in a state of complete awareness and tranquillity through certain physical and mental exercises
2. any method by which such awareness and tranquillity are attained, esp a course of related exercises and postures designed to promote physical and spiritual wellbeingSee Astanga yoga, Bikram yoga, hatha yoga, power yoga, raja yoga, Sivananda yoga

1820, from Hindi yoga, from Sanskrit yoga-s, literally “union, yoking” (with the Supreme Spirit), from PIE root *yeug- “to join” (see jugular). In Hinduism, a set of mental and physical exercises aimed at producing spiritual enlightenment.