YOGA

Nobody knows exactly how many years Yoga is. it originated, while 10000 5000 years ago. It was transmitted orally and went through a lot of evolution. The oldest reference to Yoga was found when archaeological excavations were made in the Indus Valley civilization-a surprising of powerful and influential at the beginning of the period. This sophisticated culture developed around the River Indus and Rio Sarasvati far in northern India, the border towards Pakistan and had earlier baths sewage, 2600 BC.

While many religions still want to make your own creation, Yoga belongs to us all. It has many facets which can be found in Hindu and Buddhist faith, but the basic principles are universal and based on “eight limbs of Yoga”, which can be found in all religions.

The history of Yoga is defined as four periods:

Vedic period, period Pre-Classical, classical period, send classical period and the modern period

History of Yoga

Yoga is said to be as old as civilization itself, but the practice oral transmission, left many gaps in its history. The first archaeological evidence relating to the availability of Yoga is found in seals mohenjodaro civilization excavated Indus Valley, depicting a figure seated on a traditional Yoga pose. Stamps of stones put existence of Yoga from around 3000 BC.

The Vedic period

The following reference to yoga is found in the Rig Veda, the oldest sacred text in the world. The Vedas, dating back to 1500 BC and 1200 BC, are a collection of hymns, mantras and brahmanical rituals that praised a be greater. Yoga is known in the book as yoking or discipline without any mention of a practice or a method to achieve this discipline. The Atharva Veda also mentions the yoga with a reference to the control of breathing.

Such period

The creation of the Upanishads, between brands from 800 to 500 BC, the period called Pre-Classical Yoga. The word Upanishad means sit near and implies that the only way for a student could learn the truths contained in the texts was to be near a guru.

The Maitrayaniya Upanishad outlined a six-fold path to liberation. This path of yoga six-fold included controlling breathing (pranayama), removing the senses (pratyahara), meditation (dhyana), concentration (dhara?a), contemplation (tarka) and absorption (samadhi). Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra was later to mirror these paths with further elucidation and some additions.

Two yoga disciplines have gained prominence in this moment: karma yoga (action path or ritual) and jnana yoga (the path of knowledge) or study of the Scriptures. Both paths leading to liberation or enlightenment. The Bhagavad Gita-composed around 500 BC later added the bhakti yoga (the path of devotion) to this path.

It was the turn of the Upanishads that the idea of ritual sacrifice was internalized and became the idea of sacrifice ego through self-knowledge, action and wisdom. This remains an important part of the philosophy of Yoga today. As with the Vedas, the Upanishads contained nothing of what we would call as yoga asana practice today. The presentation of the first and probably most important Yoga came in the next period.

Classical period

Written sometime in the second century, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali has created a milestone in the history of yoga, defining what is today known as the classical period. This set of 195 sutras (Aphorisms) is considered the first systematic presentation of Patanjali yoga and is revered as the father of yoga.

Patanjali defined the eight-limbed path of yoga (ashtanga yoga), which described a practical Treatise on life and arranged in a path to achieve harmony between mind, body and soul. A rigorous compliance which would lead one to enlightenment. The sutras still serve as guidance to live in the world, although modern yoga no longer sees the need to master the eight legs in succession.

Post-classical Period

It was in this period that the belief of the body like a temple was rekindled and Yogis practice designed to rejuvenate the body and to prolong life. Was no longer necessary to escape reality. Instead, the focus was more alive at the moment and on the correct path. The exploration of spiritual and physical halves and the need to harmonise the mind, body and Spirit led to the creation of Tantra yoga, purify the body and mind and Hatha Yoga in the ninth or tenth century.

Modern period

Yoga in your current avatar owes much to learned gurus who traveled west to spread the benefits of yoga or researched and created different schools of yoga. In 1893, Swami Vivekanada addressed to Parliament of religions in Chicago and spoke of Raja Yoga. Swami Sivanada wrote several books on yoga and philosophy and introduced the five principles of yoga. J. Krishnamurti, Indian philosopher prolific, influenced thousands with his writings and teachings on Jnana yoga.

The epicenter DEFINER modern day yoga, as practiced in the West, began with Krishnamacharya, Mysore India in 1931.

T Krishnamacharya opened the first school of Hatha Yoga in the 1920s. Three of the most famous pupils were-Pattabhi Jois Krishnamacharya, who developed the school of Ashtanga vinyasa yoga, Indra Devi who introduced Yoga to Hollywood and bks Iyengar, who created the Iyengar yoga, known for his attention to the alignment of the body and for its use of props.

Since then, many more Yoga gurus have become pioneers, popularization yoga and find new styles according to the times of change. Today, there are endless styles of yoga, all based on ingredients of different paths of yoga (see: the paths of Yoga).

Yoga in America has been more focused on side Asana practice, but a true yogi knows there is much more to experience. I always advise students to experiment with different styles and you’ll find one that gives you the ultimate enrichment.

Enjoy you spiritual journey …