Definition of Yoga in Bhagavad Gita is not what the generation of present times is interpreting. This includes the present Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. The International yoga day on June 21 declared because of Narendra Modi is really upsetting. Why?
Yoga simply does not mean a routine of yogic exercises, asanas to maintain the body fit and fine. Indulging in yoga seekers of yester era succeeded in reaching god. Definitely the June 21 international yoga day does not have that purport.
Yoga is derived from root word yog which in Hindi stands for joining, adding merging two things together. The effort of soul atman to merge, yoke with Brahman, God Almighty is called yoga.
From times immemorial ever since Vedas, Upanishads (independent spiritual treatises) and Bhagavad Gita came on the scene seekers of all ages indulged in spiritual routines to reach cosmic end of life, state of self realization, god realization.
Yoga demands indulging in contemplation (chintan) to reach hidden abstract cosmic truths of life contained in scriptures of different religions of world primarily Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads.
Yoga is meant for serious travelers of spiritual path, seekers, those desiring reaching God in their lifetime. And how many people world over indulged in such activities! The figures could be counted on fingers.
Indulging in yoga as detailed in Bhagavad Gita in the last about 150 years amongst 7000 million people existing world over only Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharshi Ramana finally succeeded in reaching God in their lifetime.
Yoga collectively is a set of many spiritual routines like demolishing ego in totality, establishing total control over five senses and mind, ability to practice absolute celibacy for a minimum period of 12 years in continuation for full awakening of kundalini shakti, the coiled Serpentine energy lying dormant in base of spine.
In present times for indulgence in yoga one need not go to deep dense forests, confines of Himalayas. One can engage in yoga even while indulging in daily routines of life. Difficult, yet not impossible!
In present times to become a successful Yogi, becoming a Swami Vivekananda in real life is an absolute must. Anything less than stature of Swami Vivekananda would not do.
Path of yoga, spirituality is not that easily travelled. It demands highest level of patience, persistence and perseverance that could ever be practiced by human beings.
Path of yoga also was never conducted in part-time. Path of spirituality demands our wholehearted indulgence every second of life. It is more rigorous than climbing Mount Everest at least a million times.
Just by opening an ashram (hermitage) and imparting so-called spiritual wisdom does not make one a Yogi. Mahavira (24th Tirthankara of Jainism) rightly said, do not preach spirituality, anything related to enlightenment unless you successfully reach state of enlightenment yourself. But nowadays preaching half baked theories to gullible mankind has become the order of day.
Yoga is neither a profession nor a pastime. Yoga is purely an inward journey towards our soul atman existing in heart and which can be completed only by indulgence in Bhagavad Gita.