Yoga has been explained by the word of yuj or yug,whatever it is. All the repeaters say the same thing about yoga. To unite a person with the Universe, or to unite a person with GOD, etc. We cannot unite anything that is allready united. We can only be aware of this unification. How can we realize this togetherness, this wholeness, this unity? Our tool is YOGA, that is it. That is why we take our postures on our mat. Or the other path to be aware of this unity, is to understand our self. There are lots that we do not know about ourself,for instance, why we sometime suddenly like the person at first glance?  Why we are so close to hate some people when they act, even their action is very right!!! And logical, but we almost hate him/her!!! Or why suddenly the glass in our hand drops to the ground as if some one has hit our hand!!! How come all although our tries to quit smoking have been failed, but a brief sentence of some body bocomes enough to stop smoking ! Questions like this can be many,many. If we really start to understand ourself, then all these questions will be revealed and we start to see the dark side of ourselfs. This understanding, this realization of ourself can be gained by YOGA. Yoga is a very valuable tool, nothing more or less.

The 8 STEPS are

1- YAMA

2- NIYAMA

3- ASANA

4- PRANAYAMA

5- PRATYAHARA

6- DHARANA

7- DHYANA

8- SAMADHI

While all 8 steps are helpful, for any one particular person they may not occur in the same sequence.

In some cases (depending on which path you choose and how far along you are) some of the intermediate steps might not even be necessary.

YAMA – Self-discipline consisting of: non-injury, truthfulness,
non-stealing, continence and non-acceptance of gifts.

NIYAMA – Self-improvement i.e.; qualities to be cultivated: purity, simplicity, contentment, endurance, repeated affirmation of SELF, sustained resolve to attain Yoga (unity.)

(Yama and niyama are pretty much the “Thou shalts” and the “Thou shalt
nots”)

ASANA – Mastering a seated posture in which a person can remain motionless for extended periods of time.

PRANAYAMA – Regulated breathing

PRATYAHARA – Retraction of the senses.

DHARANA – “Singularity of focus” in meditation

DHYANA – For me, it’s “Subjective meditation.” (see thread with that title)

SAMADHI – Unity