The history of yoga has many places of anonymity and ambiguity due to its oral transmission of sacred texts and the secretive nature of its teachings. But the roots of Yoga go back more than 5000 years.

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The first reference to Yoga was found when archaeological excavations were carried out in the Indus Valley. Where ancient carvings depict a figure that some archaeologists think represents a yogi sitting in a traditional cross-legged yoga pose with his hands resting on his knees and meditating.

The long and rich history of yoga can be divided into four main periods of development: the Vedic period, the pre-classical period, the classical period, and the post-classical period.

Vedic period

The existence of the Vedas marks this period. The Vedas contain the oldest known yogic teachings and as such the teachings found in the Vedas are called Vedic Yoga. This is represented by rituals and ceremonies that attempt to go beyond the limitations of the mind.

During this time, the Vedic people relied on dedicated Vedic rishis or yogis to teach them how to live in divine harmony.

Preclassic Yoga

The creation of the Upanishads marks Preclassic Yoga. The Upanishads explain the teachings of the Vedas in more detail.

Yoga shares some characteristics not only with Hinduism but also with Buddhism that we can trace in its history. During the 6th century BC, the Buddha began teaching Buddhism, which emphasizes the importance of meditation and the practice of physical postures.

Later, around 500 BC. C., the Bhagavad-Gita or Song of the Lord was created and is currently the oldest known yoga scripture. It is dedicated entirely to Yoga and has confirmed that it is an ancient practice for some time. Just as the Upanishads promote the Vedas, the Gita builds on and incorporates the doctrines found in the Upanishads.

Classical period

The Classic Period is marked by another creation: the Yoga Sutra. Written by Patanjali around the 2nd century, it was an attempt to define and standardize Classical Yoga. The Eightfold Path of Patanjali Yoga also called the Eight Limbs of Classical Yoga. These are:

1. Yama, which means social restrictions or ethical values;

2. Niyama, which is the personal observance of purity, tolerance and study;

3. Asanas or physical exercises;

4. Pranayama, which means breath control or regulation;

5. Pratyahara or withdrawal of the senses in preparation for meditation;

6. Dharana, which is about concentration;

7. Dhyana, which means meditation; Y

8. Samadhi, which means ecstasy.

Patanjali believed that each individual is a composite of matter and spirit; He believed that the two should be separated to cleanse the spirit, a direct contrast to Vedic and Preclassic Yoga that involve the union of body and spirit.

The concept of Patanjali prevailed for some centuries, so much so that some yogis focused exclusively on meditation and neglected their Asanas. Only later was the belief that the body was sacred revived and attention to the importance of Asana was revitalized.

Post-classical yoga

A large number of independent yoga schools and forms developed during the period after the Yoga sutras. Unlike the Yoga of Patanjalis, the Yoga of this time closely resembled the Postclassic and Vedic traditions, characterized by the unification of the body and mind.

The yogis of the past had not paid much attention to the (physical) body, concentrating all their energy on contemplation and meditation. However, the new generation of yogis developed a system in which different exercises, along with deep breathing and meditation, would help to keep the body young and prolong life. This also paved the way for the creation of Hatha Yoga and other branches and schools of Tantra Yoga.

The present

Modern Yoga started by the young Swami Vivekananda of India is said to have made a deep impression on the American he introduced. Yoga teachers began to travel west, attracting attention and followers. In the 1920s, Hatha Yoga was heavily promoted in India with the life-long work of T. Krishnamacharya. Krishnamacharya traveled through India demonstrating yoga postures and opened the first Hatha Yoga School.

During the 1950s, one of the leading Yoga teachers of his time, Selvarajan Yesudian, wrote the book “Sport and Yoga”, and it was through this book that Yoga entered the world of sport. Today we can observe many athletes and sports teams that have incorporated Yoga into their training regimes aimed at reducing, strengthening and concentrating injuries.

In the mid-1960s, Yoga received a real promotional boost when Yogi Maharishi Mahesh taught Yoga to the famous Beatles pop stars. Many other artists and musicians were also influenced to take Yoga.

Yoga became especially popular in Hollywood when Russian Indra Devi opened a yoga studio in Hollywood in 1947. She taught films like Gloria Swanson, Jennifer Jones, and Robert Ryan, as well as educating hundreds of yoga teachers.

Yoga today

Today, yoga has gained enormous popularity and has more than 30 million followers around the world and is the fastest growing health movement today. From celebrities to the common man, everyone now knows the health and mental health benefits of yoga; in fact, many doctors recommend yoga especially for stress and relaxation. New studies have shown a high success rate of up to 73 percent for treating depression with sudharshan kriya, a pranayama technique taught in the United States as “The Healing Breathing Technique.”

People’s attitude towards health, spirituality, lifestyle and our place in society has changed radically. As we suffer more and more from physical and psychological stress, and grapple with new and old illnesses, yoga seems, if not the answer, a true friend.

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