Yoga, as defined in America, is known to be a mind-body technique originating in Asia. It is readily available at fitness centers, on DVD, and even through virtual instructors. Today, people can practice yoga for various reasons such as: addressing musculoskeletal issues and physical, mental and emotional health. Although yoga is growing in popularity, its context does not extend far beyond its ability to reduce stress. Yoga originated in ancient India as a spiritual practice. In Sanskrit, the word yoga means union, yoke or join (Chaoul & Cohen). It is often represented as a metaphorical tree with eight "limbs": yama (universal ethics), Niyama (individual ethics), Asana (physical postures), pranayama (control of breathing), pratya-hara (control of the senses), dharana (concentration), dyana (meditation) and samadhi (bliss) (Ross and Thomas, 2010). It is part of Vedic science, in which Ayurveda is the branch that deals with the physical and psychological components of disease and treatment (Frawley, 2008). So when yoga is used to treat health conditions, it is done within the context of Ayurveda. Ayurveda takes yogic philosophies, principles and practices and applies them to healing the mind and body. The goal of yoga is to create balance. Inner balance is defined by six variables: diet, lifestyle, environment, body work, breathing techniques and our thought processes (Shah & Hooper, 2003). Ayurveda promotes practical guidelines for achieving balance of the elements. The original authors of Ayurvedic physicians, Caraka and Susruta, defined Ayurveda as "the science which imparts knowledge about life...the description of a happy and unhappy life, and of actions which promote and diminish longevity." Ayurveda is based on...... middle of paper ...... S. (2010). The health benefits of yoga and exercise: a review of comparative studies. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 16(1), 3-12. doi:10.1089/acm.2009.0044 Seibert, A. (2012). Health benefits of yoga: flexibility, strength, posture and more. Retrieved December 12, 2013 from http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/the-health-benefits-of-yoga?page=3Shah, V. and Hooper, G. (2003). Yoga and Ayurveda for therapy. International Journal of Yoga Therapy, 13, 7-13. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=000af616-ff49-48b7-b44a-f01b45c73599%40sessionmgr111&vid=1&hid=104Stiles, M. (2007). What yoga therapists need to know about Ayurveda and kinesiology. International Journal of Yoga Therapy, 17. Retrieved from http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=24d93d01-fbc5-4961-b995-2933c80b1b43%40sessionmgr198&vid=1&hid=104