Yoga is Union with God
"Yoga is an umbrella term that denotes philosophies & modalities emerging out of the Indian subcontinent over thousands of years that aim at mind-body transformation for spiritual Self-realisation (mokṣa or nirvana)."
Prasad Rangnekar, Yoga Educator & Yogic Mindset Mentor
What is Yoga?
Spiritual. Union. Liberation.
The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root yuj, meaning to join, to yoke, or to direct one’s attention with intention. At its heart, Yoga is the union of our individual will with the greater will of the Divine - a steadying of the soul that allows us to meet life with equanimity, in all its light and shadow.
Beneath the surface of daily life, many of us sense there is something more - a quiet calling to come home to ourselves. Yoga offers a sacred response to that call. It is a profound metaphysical body of knowledge with a transcendental aim: liberation (mokṣa), union with God, and awakening to our Infinite Potential.
Yoga gently dissolves the illusion of separation from ourselves, from others and from the sacred. It helps us see with clearer eyes, act with greater kindness, and live with more purpose. The peace we often search for outside ourselves is gradually uncovered within.
Ultimately, Yoga invites us to experience life not as a struggle to be endured, but as a sacred unfolding. In union with the Divine, even the most ordinary moments can become expressions of the Infinite. This is the promise of Yoga: a return to wholeness, and the freedom that comes with it.
A Divine Origin Handed Down from Ancient Times
The Mahābhārata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the Rāmāyaṇa. It is not only one of the longest poems in the world - with over 200,000 verses - but also one of the most spiritually and philosophically rich texts in all of world literature.
A verse from the Mahābhārata reads:
Hiraṇyagarbho yogasya vettā nānyaḥ purātanaḥ
Hiraṇyagarbha is the original knower of Yoga; there is no one more ancient
The term Hiraṇyagarbha, meaning “Golden Womb” or “Golden Embryo”, and often translated as “The Golden Womb of the Universe”, is deeply rooted in Vedic philosophy. It refers to the primal source - the cosmic seed - from which the universe was born.
Symbolising infinite creative potential, Hiraṇyagarbha represents the meeting point between the finite self (jīva) and the infinite consciousness (Brahman). It is from this transcendent origin that Yoga is said to have emerged.
The verse Hiraṇyagarbho yogasya vettā nānyaḥ purātanaḥ affirms that Yoga was not created by humans, but is a timeless, divine system - revealed at the dawn of creation. As such, Yoga is a sacred path unveiled by the very fabric of existence itself, a bridge between the human and the cosmic.
The True Nature of Yoga
Much of what is presented today as “Yoga” has been stripped of its spiritual, philosophical, and cultural roots - often reduced to a physical fitness regimen centred on āsanas (postures) alone. While movement is incredibly healing and valuable, this narrow interpretation is a modern distortion. It has emerged through a long history of cultural appropriation, colonisation, and commodification - processes that have severed Yoga from its sacred origins and diluted its deeper purpose.
This does a great disservice not only to the tradition itself, but also to the sincere seekers who come to Yoga in search of truth, healing, and connection. When we are only offered surface level information, we are denied access to the vast well of wisdom beneath. In its true form, Yoga is a complete school of philosophy - a spiritual science - that has unfolded over thousands of years. It is rooted in scriptural texts, oral tradition, and lived experience. Yoga is not just about the body; it is about the transformation of the mind, the refinement of the heart, and the liberation of the soul.
Yoga invites us to walk the path of inner alchemy:
From suffering to freedom.
From illusion to Truth.
From forgetfulness to remembrance.
From separation to sacred union with God.
I believe with all my heart that if more students truly understood the origins and full spectrum of Yoga, their practice - and their lives - would be transformed. When we approach Yoga not just something we do on the mat, but as a sacred path we walk in life, it becomes a vessel for deep remembrance. A remembrance of who we are, why we are here, and what we are connected to.
This is the Yoga I feel called to share:
Rooted in lineage.
Guided by love.
Dedicated to God.
And open to all who sincerely seek Truth.
Merging the Traditional with the Modern
In the traditional Yogic approach, practice is never one-size-fits-all. It honours the uniqueness of each individual - their body, mind, heart, and life circumstances - is guided by the wisdom of a teacher who deeply understands the path.
A complete Yoga practice weaves together multiple elements:
- Conversation, self-inquiry and lifestyle reflection
- Āsana (posture) practices
- Prānāyāma (breath control) techniques
- Dhyāna (meditation) practices
- Study of foundational texts such as The Bhagavad Gita, Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras, Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse and Light on Yoga by B.K.S. Iyengar.
The heart of this tradition lies in the sacred relationship between teacher and student; a relationship built on trust, mutual respect, and spiritual commitment. A skilled teacher does not impose an external ideal but instead tailors the practice to meet the student where they are, guiding them gently toward their highest potential.
Āsanas are not performed for aesthetic perfection, but are chosen, adapted, and sequenced to suit the individual’s needs, intentions, and energy. The breath becomes the anchor - a sacred thread connecting body, mind, and spirit - and a gateway to presence.
This is the lineage I carry into my teaching and mentoring.
Though we live in a modern world, the essence of Yoga remains timeless. I blend the depth of traditional teachings with the realities of contemporary life - meeting each student not just as a practitioner, but as a whole person on a spiritual journey. Whether through personalised mentorship, self-study courses, or immersive retreats, I create a space for sincere seekers to reconnect with the sacred, remember who they truly are, and deepen their union with God. In a world that so often encourages disconnection and striving, true Yoga invites us home - to our breath, our inner wisdom, and our God-given potential.