As yoga becomes increasingly diffuse and diverse, a single, common definition that can be agreed upon by everyone is all but impossible. Complicating matters further, the term yoga has been in use for several thousand years and has shifted in meaning many times. Since my primarily concern is the modern interpretation of the physical practices of yoga, it is there that we will look for our definition.

The word yoga comes from Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language. It is a derivation of the word yuj, which means yoking, as in a team of oxen. In contemporary practice, this is often interpreted as meaning union. Yoga is said to be for the purpose of uniting the mind, body, and spirit.

How can this union be achieved? Meditation is one way, but sometimes it is necessary to prepare the body for meditation by stretching and building strength. This is the physical practice of yoga, also know as asana.

Most modern yoga practices rely heavily on the Yoga Sutras of Patajali, a series of aphorisms written c. 250 CE, as the basis for their philosophies. Patanjali classifiesasana as one of the eight "limbs" of yoga, the majority of which are more concerned with mental and spiritual well-being than physical activity.

Many people think that yoga is just stretching. But while stretching is certainly involved, yoga is really about creating balance in the body through developing both strength and flexibility. This is done through the performance of poses or postures, each of which has specific physical benefits. The poses can be done quickly in succession, creating heat in the body through movement (vinyasa-style yoga) or more slowly to increase stamina and perfect the alignment of the pose. The poses are a constant, but the approach to them varies depending on the yoga tradition in which the teacher has trained.

Yoga teachers will often refer to "your practice," which means your individual experience with yoga as it develops over time. The amazing thing about yoga is that your practice is always evolving and changing, so it never gets boring. Although the poses themselves do not change, your relationship to them will. Anyone can start a yoga practice, even if you don't feel like you are very flexible or very strong. These things will improve the longer you practice. Another great thing about thinking about "your practice" is that it encourages the noncompetitive spirit of yoga. One of the most difficult, but ultimately most liberating things about yoga is letting go of the ego and accepting that no one is better than anyone else. Everyone is just doing their best on any given day.

In addition to practicing the poses, yoga classes may also include instruction on breathing, call and response chanting, meditation, or an inspirational reading by the teacher. The variety and amount of this will depend on the individual teacher and the yoga style in which he or she is trained. Typically, a yoga class at a gym will be more focused on the purely physical benefits of yoga, while one at a yoga center may delve more into the spiritual side. Some people find that the physical practice of yoga becomes a gateway into a spiritual exploration, while others just enjoy a wonderful low-impact workout that makes them feel great. Whatever your tendency, you will be able to find a yoga class that suits your style.

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What is Yoga? - About.com Yoga

23 hours ago Feb. 25, 2014 - 12:55 PM PST

Lenovos Yoga tablet is getting a makeover. The company announced the Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this week. It features the same flexible design, but bumps the screen resolution up to high definition. Its getting a nice increase in the power department as well.

The original 10-inch tablets 1280 x 800 display has been replaced by a much higher resolution, 10.1-inch 1920 x 1200 screen, which delivers a sharper 224 pixels per inch. It should perform a lot faster, as well, thanks to a new 1.6GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor and 2GB of RAM. The rear camera has also been upgraded to 8 megapixels, and the tablet will ship running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, with an update to Android 4.4 KitKat in the works.

Physically, the Yoga Tablet HD+ still very much resembles its predecessor. It features an adjustable kickstand capable of rotating 135 degrees. This allows you to use the tablet in three different positions on your lap, standing up for watching media, or propped up slightly for typing. The kickstand is also home to a massive 9,000mAh battery, which provides the tablet with up to 18 hours of battery life.

The Yoga Tablet HD+ will be released in April starting at $349. Its still a little pricey, but youre getting much better features for the money than the first time around. I think that with this upgrade, the Yoga stands a significantly better chance against other upper-mid-range slates like Amazons 8.9-inch Kindle Fire HDX.

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Lenovos Yoga tablet gets an HD upgrade

RACINE COUNTY As any new mother can attest, bringing a baby home often is not marked by long periods of relaxation, and the feelings of calm and inner peace.

It can be crazy, hectic, stressful and just snagging a quick shower every day might be a luxury.

But Casie Arnone, 32, of Somers, is trying to change that, one mom-and-baby yoga class at a time.

Its about mom taking time to be with baby and thats the bottom line, said Arnone, who leads a host of yoga classes at Wheaton Franciscan-All Saints hospital, 3801 Spring St., Racine.

The hospital now offers prenatal, mom and baby, cardiac and pulmonary yoga classes.

These specialized classes began in November 2011 at Wheaton Franciscan-All Saints hospital. Arnone said yoga has been popular in the western United States for years. But it will take time to gain awareness and acceptance in the Midwest.

I think people are becoming more aware of their health, she said.

Arnone, a certified prenatal and mother and baby yoga instructor, also leads Little Saints yoga classes, for hospital employees children in the on-site daycare program. Arnone breaks into a grin as she mentions the children who assume the downward dog position when they spot her.

Yoga classes, such as those offered for mothers and their babies, have benefits for both, Arnone explained.

Theres a new sort of energy, mentally, Arnone said. They go home with more energy for dad, more energy for baby. I went through it myself.

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Yoga classes tailored for moms are becoming more popular

BARCELONAIt's difficult to find a truly premium-feeling Android tablet with a display larger than 8 inches. Samsung's Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Editioncertainly boasts a lot of premium features, but its plastic chassis isn't fooling anyone. Lenovo's new Yoga Tablet 10 HD+, on the other hand, appears so sleek and stylish, you'd barely believe its predecessors were a huge disappointment.

The Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ features the same flip-open kickstand as all the other Yogas from Lenovo's storied past. You can flip it out, stand it up, and lay it down to type, or snap it all the way in to lay the Yoga flat like a tablet (though the kickstand won't go away completely, as it includes ahump from the cylindrical battery on its back).It's a bit of a struggle to get the kickstand to flip out, and there's no slit to open it with your fingernail, which makes it even more tricky.

The Yoga Tablet is covered in brushed aluminum, and feels much more high-end than its previous versions. Lenovo also introduced a new champagne color that looks stunning in person.

The 10 HD+ features a 1080p screen, a quad-core 1.6GHz Snapdragon 400 processor, 2GB of RAM, and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. It also has a 9,000mAh battery, which Lenovo says lasts for 18 hours, and can charge your Android phone, care of aB-type USB cable. That's pretty neat if you don't carry around a laptop, and your tablet's your last resort for smartphone battery life.

Lenovo does pack its Yoga Tablet with its own suite of DOit apps, which are now officially available in the Google Play store. Lenovo says you can remove the apps if you'd rather not use them, but I didn't have a chance to try this myself during my short hands-on demo. Lenovo also stuck with the stock Android keyboard rather than using a third-party keyboard app.

I'm interested to see if life with the tablet is any different now that both its aesthetics and its internals have been beefed up a bit. We're looking forward to spending more time with the Lenovo Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ as soon as it becomes available in April.

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Hands on: Lenovo's Yoga Tablet 10 HD+ adds much-needed style to the Android tablet space

What do we know for sure? That Oprah Winfrey has some spectacular guests lined up for Season 5 of Super Soul Sunday! The spiritually based OWN programming block will return March 23 (11 a.m./10c) with a slate of all-new Winfrey interviews. First up is Oscar winner Shirley MacLaine who will discuss her latest book, What If...: A Lifetime of Questions, Speculations, Reasonable Guesses, and a Few Things I Know For Sure. After decades of spiritual seeking, MacLaine will share why asking one simple question can open up a world of wonder.

Other Season 5 guests include media mogul Arianna Huffington, time-lapse cinematographer Louie Schwartzberg, TV writer and relationship expert Tracy McMillan, spiritual teacher Adyashanti, Omega Institute cofounder Elizabeth Lesser and bestselling authors Gary Zukav, Shawn Achor and Sue Monk Kidd.

The MacLaine interview will be immediately followed by the television premiere of Super Soul Sunday Presents Oprah & Eckhart Tolle: A New Earth (12 p.m./11c), Winfrey's wildly successful 2008 web series based on Tolle's landmark book A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose. Already viewed in 40 million homes, the 10-week series - which now includes brand-new content - has Winfrey and Tolle connecting with viewers worldwide via Skype, email and telephone with practical advice on how to become more aware and present in the moment and how to bring peace and joy into our stressful lives. A truly global classroom!

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Exclusive: Shirley MacLaine Kicks Off Oprah's New Season of Super Soul Sunday