Is Yoga a Religion?

Our understanding of yoga is that it is not a distinct world religion. It proposes no gods or saviors; it moves forward on the grounds of experiential confirmation rather than religious faith.

Yoga was developed in Ancient India, and evolved throughout India and the Indosphere (modern South Asia and Southeast Asia). Elements of its practice and philosophy grew in conversation with a number of Dharma Traditions. Yoga’s key concepts are foundational in Hinduism, and are also found in Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. However, Yoga was intended as a universal human practice, open to all without reservation, the goal of which involves experiencing Oneness.

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