yoga

American  

[yoh-guh] / ˈyoʊ gə /

Or Yoga

noun

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 or all of the methods or disciplines prescribed in the Hindu philosophical school of yoga, especially a series of postures and breathing exercises practiced to achieve tranquility, control of the body and mind, etc.

3. union of the self with the Supreme Being or ultimate principle.

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yoga British  

/ ˈjəʊɡɪk, ˈjəʊɡə /

noun

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 wellbeing See Astanga yoga Bikram yoga hatha yoga power yoga raja yoga Sivananda yoga

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yoga Cultural  

1. In Hinduism, a set of mental and physical exercises aimed at producing spiritual enlightenment.

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Other Word Forms

• yogic adjective
• yogism noun

Etymology

Origin of yoga

First recorded in 1780–90 from Sanskrit: literally, “act of yoking or joining; yoked team; employment”; yoke ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

When I’m stretching and doing yoga, it’s not because I want to be a yogi.

From Los Angeles Times

The Beatle most associated with sitars and yoga poses was the last one anyone would expect to become a business prophet.

From The Wall Street Journal

As others were overwhelmed by pressure, she was so carefree that she made yoga teachers look stressed.

From The Wall Street Journal

As for everyone else, she sees it as a beneficial tool for a person’s wellness routine, much like yoga or meditation, something to help us reset amid the “constant bombardment of external feedback.”

From Los Angeles Times

All the meditation and yoga make the movie soft when it should be hard.

From Los Angeles Times