What is Yoga?

 'Yoga' is an Indian philosophy or scripture. The most authentic sutras on 'Yoga Darshan' are considered to be the written by Maharishi Patanjali.

According to Patanjali Yoga Sutras -

 'Yogashchitta Vrittinirodha:'

 That is, stopping the 'chitavrittis' is yoga.  The thought waves arising in the mind are called vrittis. Stopping these tendencies is called yoga.

The literal meaning of 'yoga' is 'union'. The word yoga is derived from Sanskrit root 'yuj' which means 'to join' or 'to unite'

The result of yoga is the connection between the soul and the Supreme Soul.  Therefore, this is the union of the soul with the Supreme Soul.

The mind is very fickle.  Through the senses with which it is combined, we make knowledge of external objects. The external instruments and the organs catch the impressions and convey them to the mind, and the mind to the intellect, and the intellect reflects them as on a mirror, and back of it is the Soul that looks on them and gives His orders and His directions. All this work is done in a moment.

This mind which is inert like other instruments of the physical body but because it is subtle and the instrument of the soul, it seems to be conscious. 

 This mind of ours appears to be conscious because it is with the conscious soul.  The soul is the real self of man. 

 We go to a pond and try to see its bottom.

 Why is the bottom not visible?

 The reason is that the water is not pure.  And there are waves in it, the water is not calm.

 If the water is completely clear, there is not a single wave in it, then it is a sure thing that we will see the bottom of the pond.

 This mind is also as if it is a pond and our real form is that bottom.  These are instincts or waves.  Ignorance and impurity of the mind is that dirty water.  If all these is not there, then your true form can be seen.

 'Yoga' is the science of controlling or stopping these instincts or waves.

 'Yoga' means to 'union'.  Union of soul with the Supreme soul. Therefore the yogi, knowing himself close to God, considers everyone to be a child or part of that Supreme Father, he sees all beings as self.  Yogi does not hurt anyone. Considering everyone as God's son like himself, he loves everyone.  The feeling of sin, sorrow, anger, suffering are removed from their mind.  And the whole personality gets purified by doing penance with fire of yoga.