The origins of Yoga remain obscure, not only because they are so old, but also because of their initial oral transmission. This means that the dating of written texts cannot reflect the origin of their contents. Any material worth writing down could have existed for generations beforehand in oral form, which itself will have taken time to evolve. It is possible that the divisions of yoga into different paths is only the inevitable fragmentation that accompanies long periods of time. Originally, perhaps, yoga was simply yoga, a unity capable of endless emphases. It is to unity rather than union that the word yoga points. For union implies a separation that though it may appear to be functioning is not inherent to the nature of being human, which is a dynamic expression of the indivisible wholeness of life itself.

From this unity five clear directions emerged, each expressing one of the five elemental energies of life. Karma Yoga, the way of selfless action, expressing earth energy. Bhakti Yoga, the way of selfless devotion, expressing water energy. Hatha Yoga, the way of energetic balancing, expressing fire energy. Jnana Yoga, the way of direct self enquiry, expressing air energy. Raja Yoga, the way of conscious being, expressing space energy. All involve and require profound and deep release of the known. The postural and breathing practices popularly known as hathayoga are a basic training that prepares body and mind to accomodate spirit in whichever way suits the individual.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are regarded as the authentic source text for yoga. According to which yoga has eight limbs. Classical Yoga is the application of Yama, within the context of Niyama to establishing the bodimind in effortless stillness (asana). This stillness naturally infolds from the body to the source of awareness itself through the inner limbs of asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana to samadhi. This infolding is the natural result of passionate enquiry into the nature of the self.

Yoga is a relaxation into the welcome depths of being human in all of its incorrigible imperfectibility. It is obscured by any attempt to impose anything on the body, breath or mind. Shape making is not yoga. Breath control is not yoga. Mind control is not yoga. Yoga results from enquiring into the very depths of being human. This enquiry is not an intellectual one. It is one of being present as deeply as possible to that which is actually happening in body and mind. As this becomes possible the subtle unities of being human emerge. Within the realisation of the ground of being human the unity of life is realised and all separations and divisions are seen through. Then we find ourselves to be where we have always been, but knowing it at last: abiding in the inescapable presence of God.

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