This is the illusionist, in which I, Helen Zoltzman, help language up off the floor after

a downward dog goes wrong.

We're sticking with yoga for today's show, so let's limber up with a little word history

to explain the word yoga.

Here is Jim Mallinson, senior lecturer in Sanskrit and classical Indian studies at Soass University

of London.

The word yoga, well that, it comes from a root yuuch which is cognate with yoke, which

is for joining two things together.

Although within the kind of Indian grammar tradition there are actually two understandings

of this root yuuch, it can either mean to join things together or it can simply mean

to meditate.

And we find that in the definitions of yoga within yoga texts, as well as either seen

as you're joining yourself with something else.

I mean, and again that can get interpreted in many different ways depending upon the

metaphysical understanding of the tradition that's teaching yoga, or it simply means to

enter a state of meditation.

More from Jim Mallinson in a moment.

On with the show.

And as they take another deep breath in, join your chin to the throat, soften the gaze

into the heart, and to take this moment to honor yourself and your practice within our

mistake.

My name is Rishikesh Hereway, I'm the host of Song Exploder.

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