History of Ancient and Modern Yoga
What is yoga?
Yoga is a set of scientifically formulated exercises, breathing techniques and meditation, which brings about complete balance, harmony and union in the body, mind and spirit. The word ‘yoga’ in Sanskrit actually means ‘union’.
Yoga history: The history of yoga is very old, and it is very difficult to say who the first yoga practitioner was.
History of Ancient Yoga
It is believed that the practice of yoga started about 5,000 years ago. The earliest references have been found in archeological excavations in the Indus Valley. A sophisticated civilization and culture is supposed to have existed there, thousands of years ago, and seals and portraits reveal gods and human beings in various yoga postures.
Besides this, written evidence of the practice of yoga is provided in the Vedas. These are a compilation of rituals and hymns, and are more than 3,000 years old. There is reference to rituals and physical poses (asanas) which along with breathing techniques, bring about a spiritual growth.
Yoga has been undergoing a gradual transition and growth and its history can be divided into four periods:
Basics of Yoga: In the beginning, Yoga was propounded mostly by Rishis (holy sages), who wrote down the basic tenets on achieving inner focus and spirituality. Over the years, these were expanded and crystallized into a proper sequence.
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: The Classical period (around the second century) was marked by the creation of the Yoga Sutra (sutra means thread), written by Patanjali. In this 195 sutras or ways of yoga were combined and given shape in Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga (also termed as the Eight Limbs of Yoga).
They include:
History of Modern Yoga
Ancient yoga practiced inner focus and contemplation, leading to spirituality. This is in contrast to modern yoga, which has a large range of physical postures.
The late nineteenth century can be said to be the beginning of modern yoga. Swami Vivekananda, who came to Chicago for a conference on religions, made a great impact on the American public, when he spoke to them about the principles of Vedanta and yoga.
Yoga began to be studied as part of Eastern philosophy. Later vegetarianism for health reasons became popular in the 1930’s. A couple of decades later Maharishi Mahesh Yogi popularized Transcendental Meditation, followed by Yoga Guru Swami Sivananda.
Gradually modern yoga became crystallized into five basic principles:
Yoga is a set of scientifically formulated exercises, breathing techniques and meditation, which brings about complete balance, harmony and union in the body, mind and spirit. The word ‘yoga’ in Sanskrit actually means ‘union’.
Yoga history: The history of yoga is very old, and it is very difficult to say who the first yoga practitioner was.
History of Ancient Yoga
It is believed that the practice of yoga started about 5,000 years ago. The earliest references have been found in archeological excavations in the Indus Valley. A sophisticated civilization and culture is supposed to have existed there, thousands of years ago, and seals and portraits reveal gods and human beings in various yoga postures.
Besides this, written evidence of the practice of yoga is provided in the Vedas. These are a compilation of rituals and hymns, and are more than 3,000 years old. There is reference to rituals and physical poses (asanas) which along with breathing techniques, bring about a spiritual growth.
Yoga has been undergoing a gradual transition and growth and its history can be divided into four periods:
- Vedic Period
- Pre-Classical Period
- Classical Period
- Post-Classical Period
Basics of Yoga: In the beginning, Yoga was propounded mostly by Rishis (holy sages), who wrote down the basic tenets on achieving inner focus and spirituality. Over the years, these were expanded and crystallized into a proper sequence.
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: The Classical period (around the second century) was marked by the creation of the Yoga Sutra (sutra means thread), written by Patanjali. In this 195 sutras or ways of yoga were combined and given shape in Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga (also termed as the Eight Limbs of Yoga).
They include:
- Yama, which is ethical values and social restraints
- Niyama, which entails personal observation of purity and tolerance.
- Asanas or physical exercises.
- Pranayama, which included control and regulation of breath.
- Pratyahara, which means a sense of withdrawal, and is the first step for meditation.
- Dharana, which means concentration.
- Dhyana, which is meditation.
- Samadhi, which is ultimate ecstasy in union with the universe.
History of Modern Yoga
Ancient yoga practiced inner focus and contemplation, leading to spirituality. This is in contrast to modern yoga, which has a large range of physical postures.
The late nineteenth century can be said to be the beginning of modern yoga. Swami Vivekananda, who came to Chicago for a conference on religions, made a great impact on the American public, when he spoke to them about the principles of Vedanta and yoga.
Yoga began to be studied as part of Eastern philosophy. Later vegetarianism for health reasons became popular in the 1930’s. A couple of decades later Maharishi Mahesh Yogi popularized Transcendental Meditation, followed by Yoga Guru Swami Sivananda.
Gradually modern yoga became crystallized into five basic principles:
- Asanas or proper exercise
- Pranayam or correct breathing
- Savasana or correct relaxation
- Proper diet
- Dhyana or meditation or correct thinking.