The History Of Yoga

HISTORY OF YOGA

Yoga, the well-know form
of exercise and mediation,
is certainly getting more
and more popular when it
comes to staying healthy
and fit.

Many people prefer
yoga over any other
form of work out
because of its physical
and spiritual benefits.

Different schools of yoga are practiced worldwide nowadays,
but they have common roots that can be traced back to about
5000 years ago. As a matter of fact it is the oldest form of
exercise known to man. Some researchers even claim it to have
roots dating back to 10000 years ago.

The earliest yoga writings were said to be transcribed on fragile
palm leaves. So unfortunately they have been lost.

Even though the art of
yoga is said to be old
and varied, it is seen as
the most popular form of
relaxation of both the
body and mind.

Most people look up to
yoga as a true lifestyle.

Yoga
and the pre-classical era

Pre-classical yoga has its root back to the Indus-Saraswati
civilization of the Northern part of India, making India the
birthplace of yoga.

The word ‘yoga’ was first mentioned in the oldest and most
sacred text, the Rig Veda.

The development of yoga took place as brahmanas documented
it in the Upanishad, marking the beginning of the pre-classical
era of yoga.

Yoga began to be practiced and preached from that time,
progressively increasing in popularity.

The most renowned yogic scripture, the Bhagavad Gita is said to
have been written in 500 BCE. The rules of origination of yoga
can be traced back to both Hinduism and Buddhism.

The Bhagavad Gita brought various disciplines in Yoga called-
Bhakti yoga, Karma Yoga and Jana yoga.

Classical yoga

In this Yoga period, Patanjali composed the yoga sutras.
These Yoga sutras were meant to be memorized, not written.

The earliest writings about the yoga sutras can be found in
the Yoga Bhashya, written by Ved Vyas.
Patanjali’s idea of yoga emphasized restoring the spirit of each
individual to its absolute truthfulness.

The yoga sutras were the first systematic representation of
yoga and are said to have been written in the second century.

Patanjali is often said to be the father of yoga and his design
of the yoga sutras still influences modern yoga styles to this
day.

Post classical yoga

Centuries after Patanjali, some yoga gurus designed a system
to practice yoga, rejuvenate the body and prolong life.
They rejected the prior teachings of the Vedas.

The idea of the physical body as the main means of
enlightenment came to light and started to be followed.

A new discipline of yoga, tantra yoga was born.
This form of yoga was more spiritual than physical and was
designed for the health of the mind and body.

The idea of tantra yoga is to weave many yoga styles together
to connect with the universe.

Tantra yoga was designed to break the boundaries in our
minds and cleanse the soul to gain enlightenment.

This discipline of spiritual
exploration led to the birth of
modern yoga or yoga in the
west-“hatha yoga”

Modern yoga

Modern yoga came to being in
the late 1800s and early
1900s. Swami Vivekananda, a
disciple of saint Ramakrishna,
addressed the audience in a
conference in Chicago as
“Brothers and sisters of
America”, hereby attracting
many American students to
India and yoga. This marked
the beginning of the modern
yoga period!

The next famous yogic guru
was Paramahansa who wrote
the “autobiography of a yogi”.
His teachings called
“Yogodo teachings”
continue to influence modern
yoga today.

In the mid 1960’s,
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
introduced techniques of
meditation to the West.
These teachings continue to be
an important pillar on which
the art of modern yoga stands.

Shrita Prapbhupada founded
the “International Society for
Krishna Consciousness”
or “ISKON” in 1965 and spread
a movement based on a
discipline of yoga-
” Bhakti Yoga”.

Another prominent yogic guru
was “Swami Sivananda”.
He wrote more than 200 books
about yoga and served in
many yogic centres as a
doctor, across the world

Bhagwan Rajneesh, popularly
known as Osho was still
another famous yoga guru,
renowned across the world!

We all know about
Sathya Sai Baba!
He is a guru, who is looked up
to by people of all races across
the globe. He is said to be
“the man of miracles”
by his disciples and people
follow him religiously!

Now that we know the birth of yoga and its journey over the last
few centuries. It is easy to say, it’s an ancient method of stress
release and also of strengthening the immune system, that has
been practiced for years and will continue to be practiced.