Yoga is rooted in Hindu religion and has a hoary past. Yogic discipline was inseparable from ascetic life where one attains higher conscience and finally merges with the cosmic god or cosmic energy.

Yoga means union of body and mind. Modern science has accepted man as a thinking animal. It is perfectly logical to argue that body and mind are two sides of the same coin. Mind is often known as the conscientiousness. Yoga’s modern techniques claim to hone concentration, improve general health and control senses to a large degree.

Yoga Patanjali divides Yoga into eight parts.

1. (Yama) Disciplined Behavior
2. (Niyama)Self Purification
3. (Padmasana)Bodily Posture - lotus position
4. (pranayama)Breath control
5. (Pratyahara)Sensual control
6. (Dharana) Concentration
7. (Dhyana) Meditation
8. (Samadhi) Liberation.

The first two limbs, yama and niyama involve a highly ethical and disciplined lifestyle -- control, indifference, detachment, renunciation, charity, celibacy, vegetarianism, cleanliness, and non-violence. The third step involves the development and care of the body through the use of exercises and postures (asanas). The fourth stage involves pranayama or breathing exercises. The next stage, pratyahara, involves meditation, by means of which one withdraws consciousness from the senses. The fifth limb of yoga is called dharana which means concentration. An object of contemplation is held fixedly in the mind; it must not be allowed to waver or change its form or color -- as it will have a tendency to do.

Western science has taken note of Yoga and its many-fold benefits. A yogi can live without food or water for several days and he can control the senses and body fluid. No wonder NASA has studied the Yoga advantages that could be useful for space travel and astronauts.

But in the digi-world today Yoga has come to be understood as a stress-buster and health-preserving techniques. Towards this end has Kerala tailored the yoga exercises so that visitors, not wanting to go deep, could harvest the physical benefits and mental discipline from trained instructors.

Kerala’s health resorts, houseboats, hotels have facilities for getting acquainted with this health-giving technique. You get a yoga finder from the greatindiaholidays-keralatours people.

Yoga for weight loss, yoga for curing illness, yoga to quit smoking—list of benefits Yoga offers is long. Kerala, with its green and clean ambience and health traditions is the best bet to enjoy a vacation packed with several benefits at no great extra costs.