Final answer:
In Hinduism, Yoga is primarily considered as a way to attain spiritual enlightenment, encompassing a series of practices that lead to self-realization and union with the supreme soul.
Step-by-step explanation:
While Westerners may often view yoga primarily as a form of exercise, in Hinduism, yoga is considered a spiritual practice aimed at achieving more profound goals. Hindus consider Yoga primarily as a way to attain spiritual enlightenment. Yoga in the Hindu tradition is not just a physical regimen but includes a comprehensive spiritual philosophy encompassing various practices and disciplines.
These practices are designed to help individuals realize their true selves and achieve union with the supreme soul. The classical path of yoga involves eight limbs, beginning with moral restraints and personal codes of conduct, and culminates in deep meditation and ultimate unity with the divine, known as samadhi.
Historically, Yoga's purpose is the cessation of the movement of thought, allowing individuals to confront their true nature and experience the divine. First mentioned in the Rigveda and further detailed by the sage Patanjali in his Yoga sutras, Yoga was ingrained in spiritual traditions like Jainism and Buddhism, influencing religious practices beyond the Indian subcontinent.