我们对健康与健身的知识与日俱增，人们越来越感兴趣的是不仅仅关心身体健康，还关心心理与精神的健康。因此，许多人转而寻求更全面的途径来增进健康，包括一些还未成为主流的健身方式，如瑜珈。
Yoga's origins lie in Hindu philosophy, which was developed thousands of years ago in India. Today, yoga is a system of movements and meditation that emphasizes physical control and discipline as a way to achieve a state of spiritual knowledge.
瑜珈起源于印度哲学，在印度已经发展了数千年。而今，瑜珈是一组强调身体控制与修身养性的运动和静坐，是达到“天人合一”境界的一个有效途径。
Yoga’s ideal state of knowledge is reached after a person has gone through eight different stages. These include aspects of self-control, religion, postures, regulation of breath, restraint of senses, steadying of the mind, meditation, and profound thought. For a practitioner of yoga, or "yogi" the progression through these stages is a movement from the physical toward a perfect mental state.
人要经过八个不同阶段的训练才能达到瑜珈的完美境界。这包括了自制、信仰、体位、调息、节欲、内省、冥想和三摩地。对瑜珈修习者来说，这些阶段是从身体到完美精神境界的进程。
There are eight major schools of yoga, each varying in its area of emphasis. The type of yoga that is taught in the West is mainly a combination of exercise and meditation called Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga is said to have a number of positive effects, such as reducing weight, strengthening muscles and nerves, cleaning out the body, and generally improving health and prolonging life.
瑜珈有八大流派，每派强调的领域有异。西方国家传授的瑜珈名为“哈他瑜珈“(又称“运动瑜珈”)，主要是运动与静坐的结合。据说“哈他瑜珈”有许多良效，如减肥、强化肌肉与神经、净化身体进而增进健康，延年益寿。
Recent decades have seen yoga gain widespread acceptance as a method of staying in shape, as well as a way of handling stress. Pop singer Madonna and supermodel Christy Turlington are just two of the many celebrities known to be strong advocates of yoga.
几十年来，瑜珈已广为世人接受，成为一种既能保持身材又能舒缓压力的方法。有许多知名人士亟力推荐瑜珈，流行歌手麦当娜与超级名模克里斯蒂·特灵顿只是其中两位。
At present, there is a lot of speculation and uncertainty about yoga and its effects. One thing, however, is certain: In our modern world of fast-paced lifestyles, taking time out to meditate and do some relaxing exercise cannot be a bad thing!
目前，关于瑜珈及其作用有很多揣测与怀疑。然而，有件事是毋庸置疑的：在快节奏生活方式的现代社会中，花点时间静坐和做些放松身体的运动，绝不是件坏事!