One of my students, in her request for my Vocabulary Snapshot class, asked to focus on Health and Fitness, particularly on how yoga relates to meditation. Given that I used to teach yoga, that really made my day.

Yoga is an ancient system of practice from India that combines physical, mental, and spiritual development. The word yoga itself is sometimes translated as “union”, and sometimes as “concentration.” Both meanings remind us that yoga is about bringing the mind and body together and learning to focus our attention.

The main ideas of yoga were written down around two thousand years ago in a text called the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali, who described eight stages or “limbs” (ashta-anga in Sanskrit, the ancient Indian language). These stages can be seen as steps that help us calm the body and mind so we can live with greater clarity.

1. Restraints (Yama) – moral guidelines such as honesty and kindness.

2. Discipline (Niyama) – good habits like cleanliness, gratitude, and study.

3. Posture (Asana) – physical positions that help us become stable and comfortable.

4. Breath Control (Pranayama) – awareness and regulation of breathing.

5. Withdrawal (Pratyahara) – turning our attention inward, away from distractions.

6. Concentration (Dharana) – focusing the mind on one object or idea.

7. Meditation (Dhyana) – continuous, effortless focus.

8. Liberation (Samadhi) – a state of deep peace and freedom.

While yoga may have been intended as a path to freedom from the cycle of rebirth, it can also be seen as a way to live our life more freely.
The early steps encourage us to create a less stressful, less complicated environment — both around us and within us.

The middle steps help us prepare the body so we can sit comfortably and breathe with ease.
The later steps guide us to overcome distractions and develop one-pointed concentration, which we can then direct toward whatever we choose — learning a language, passing an exam, pursuing a hobby, or even seeking liberation itself.

Language Support

Ancient – very old; from a long time ago
System – an organized set of ideas or methods
Spiritual – connected with the inner self, not just the body
Union – joining two or more things together as one
Guidelines – rules or advice about how to behave
Gratitude – feeling thankful
Stable – steady and balanced, not shaking
Regulation – controlling or adjusting something carefully
Inward – toward the inside of yourself or your mind
Effortless – done easily and naturally
Liberation – complete freedom
Cycle of rebirth – the idea that after death, life begins again in another form
Distraction – something that takes your attention away
Concentration – focusing your attention fully on one thing
One-pointed – focused in one clear direction without wandering