As our knowledge of health and fitness increases, people are becoming more and more interested in not only taking care of themselves physically¹, but mentally and spiritually as well. As a result, many are turning to more complete approaches to health, including less mainstream² fitness methods such as yoga.

随着我们对健康与健身的知识与日俱增，人们在关心身体健康的同时，越来越关注心理与精神的健康。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，如瑜伽。

Yoga's origins lie in Hindu philosophy, which was developed thousands of years ago in India. Today, yoga is a system of movements and meditation³ that emphasizes physical control and discipline as a way to achieve a state of spiritual knowledge.

瑜伽起源于印度哲学，这种哲学在印度已经发展了数千年。如今，瑜伽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”这种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, postures⁴, regulation of breath, restraint of senses, steadying of the mind, meditation, and profound thought. For a practitioner⁵ of yoga, or"yogi"the progression through these stages is a movement from the physical toward a perfect mental state.

一般要经过8个不同阶段的训练才能达到瑜伽的完美境界。这包括了自制、信仰、体位、调息、节欲、内省、冥想和三摩地。对瑜伽修习者来说，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.

瑜伽有8大流派，每派强调的领域各有不同。西方国家传授的瑜伽名为“哈他瑜伽”（又称“运动瑜伽”），主要是运动与静坐的结合。据说“哈他瑜伽”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 super model Christy Turlington are just two of the many celebrities⁶ known to be strong advocates of youga.

近几十年来，瑜伽已广为世人接受，成为一种既能保持身材又能舒缓压力的方法。有许多知名人士极力推荐瑜伽，流行歌手麦当娜与超级名模克里斯蒂?特灵顿就是其中两位。

At present, there is a lot of speculation⁷ and uncertainty⁸ about yoga and its effects. One thing, however, is certain: In our modern world of fast-paced lifestyles, taking time out to meditate⁹ and do some relaxing exercise cannot be a bad thing!

目前，关于瑜伽及其作用有很多揣测与怀疑。然而，有一点是毋庸置疑的：在快节奏的现代生活中，花点时间静坐和做些放松身体的运动，绝不是件坏事！