The word “yoga” probably brings to mind people in contorted poses that rival those of the most flexible Twister enthusiasts. Most people would not be familiar, however, with the practice’s origin as a way to be in union with ultimate reality.

In recent years, yoga has become a popular way to exercise, reduce stress and treat injuries. Because of the focus on the physical aspects of yoga, few people realize they are participating in an ancient practice rooted in Indian religion.

Yoga is a physical and mental practice designed to reduce the focus on the external, said Whitney Sanford, associate professor of religious studies. Most people are preoccupied with the distractions of daily existence and, as a result, lead hectic lives, she said.

Yoga provides people with “a technique to cut off our attachment to stuff,” Sanford said.

Sanford said yoga originated in India around the time of the Buddha in the sixth century B.C. A movement of people were trying to answer questions about the nature of the self, soul and how to get out of the cycle of reincarnation, Sanford said.

“Yoga started as a practice done by ascetics. It was not something the average person did,” she said.

Sanford said yoga was probably introduced on a popular level in America in the 1960s and 1970s when there was an interest in alternative, non-Western religions. She also said today’s hectic society probably has something to do with the increased awareness of yoga.

“Everyone is so stressed beyond belief — how often do we get an hour to rest, to focus?” she said.

Today’s fitness yoga typically focuses on the physical aspects of yoga, like postures and breathing, said Jan Mitchell, registered yoga teacher.

Mitchell, who has taught yoga classes for 25 years and currently teaches a class for the YWCA in Ames, said people pursue yoga to relieve stress, improve flexibility and to treat injuries. She also said a fair amount of people are simply curious.

Samantha Tam, senior in anthropology, said practicing yoga improved her flexibility and relaxed her.

“Every time I left I always felt really relaxed and in a good mood,” she said.

The distinction between fitness yoga and religious yoga is a contemporary American way of thinking, Sanford said.

“People from other cultures wouldn’t make these distinctions,” she said.

Yoga started as a way to harness the passions and senses with the aim of getting away from individuality and tapping into that which is permanent, Sanford said. From a Hindu perspective, the term “self” denotes the universal soul, or Atman, that underlies all of existence. On this understanding, yoga then becomes a way to connect with what is real, she said.

Mitchell said there have been some who have been apprehensive about doing yoga because of its religious ties.

“People thought that I was going to turn them into a Hindu,” she said.

Mitchell, who describes her own spirituality as “eclectic,” said yoga can benefit anyone, regardless of their personal religious beliefs.

“It’s about learning and opening yourself to whatever you choose,” she said.