“Yoga is the process of eliminating pain – pain from the body, mind and the society.”
Amit Ray
In Sanskrit, raja means ‘king" or ‘royal," referring to the status of Raja yoga as a "royal path"’ or principal form of yoga. Traditionally, Raja yoga refers to both the goal of yoga and the method of attaining it. As such, it is also considered to be the state of peace and contentment that arises from sustained yoga and meditation practice.
In essence, Raja yoga is the yoga of mind and body control, with a focus on meditation and energetics. It encompasses teachings from all the different paths, and it is from Raja yoga that hatha yoga and modern asana practice developed.
Since Raja yoga involves all three dimensions of human existence (physical, mental and spiritual), it enables practitioners to achieve balance and harmony on all of these levels.
