Yoga is practiced by millions of people all over the world. This ancient spiritual discipline nurtures physical health, mental clarity and emotional balance.
In the 19th century Indian yoga masters began to travel and introduce yoga to Europe and North America. Swami Vivekananda first brought yoga to the United States in 1893 at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago.
Origins
Yoga has been around for 5,000 years and was originally a spiritual and philosophical practice. It was a key aspect of Hinduism and was also embraced by Buddhists and Jainism.
The earliest mention of yoga is in the Rig Veda, followed by the Upanishads (from the Sanskrit root upa meaning “near” or “beside”). The Upanishads are collections of Hindu scriptures that discuss methods of self-transformation and meditation.
It is during this time that yoga branched out to include physical postures and movements, resulting in hatha yoga. Swami Vivekananda, who introduced yoga to the western world in 1893 at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago, was one of the first yogis to present yoga as not just a spiritual exercise but a practical, physical discipline.
Symbolism
Symbols are an integral part of yoga and help to enhance our experience of the practice. From the shapes of certain poses to the sound of OM, symbols are used to connect us to deeper meanings.
Several symbols have significant significance in yoga, including the crescent moon, trident, and lotus flower. The lotus represents purity emerging from murky waters, a metaphor for personal growth and spiritual enlightenment. The trident is a symbol of power and the three gunas—satva, rajas, and tamas—that represent the dynamic energy of life.
Similarly, the hamsa hand is said to protect against the evil eye and bad luck and represents good health, protection and strength. Many of these yoga symbols also appear in other cultures and religions, highlighting the universality of yoga’s message.
Asanas
In yogic practice the body is not considered as just an exercise or a “physical workout.” Yoga postures (asanas) bring your physical, mental and emotional state into balance and harmony.
Each person’s response to yoga will vary from the next. Your motivation, coordination, endurance and body structure have a huge influence on the effect yoga has on your physical and mental state.
It is important to keep in mind that yoga is not meant to be easy or fun, and you should always respect your own limits. Practicing yoga with a happy, calm and peaceful mindset allows you to reap the full benefits of this ancient practice. This will help you achieve samadhi, the ideal state of higher consciousness. It will also prevent injury and illness (1).
Pranayama
As yogis delved deeper into their practice, they began to discover the profound physical and spiritual benefits of controlling breath. They documented their findings in ancient Indian scriptures such as the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and the Bhagavad Gita.
The word pranayama is derived from the Sanskrit roots prana and ayama, which translate to “life force energy” and “control of the life force.” It’s one of the eight limbs of yoga, encompassing techniques to control the breath for different lengths of time to improve health.
This practice is incorporated into asana and meditative practices in yoga. It is believed that pranayama can help to increase concentration, reduce stress, and enhance overall well-being. It’s also considered to be a powerful tool for purification and self-discovery.
Meditation
Meditation is one of the most important components of yoga, allowing practitioners to quiet the mind and connect with higher consciousness. It is a practice that can be used to cultivate emotional stability, boost the immune system, reduce stress levels, and more.
In the yogic tradition, meditation is known as dharana. Throughout the centuries, the meditative practices of yoga were passed orally. This was until the time of Patanjali, who consolidated the various practices and beliefs into a comprehensive text called the Yoga Sutras.
During the late 19th century, yogis like Swami Vivekananda and Paramahansa Yogananda began to travel the world spreading the teachings of yoga as a path to self-realization. Yoga experienced a major resurgence in the 20th century when masters like Sivananda and Krishnamacharya developed physical yoga techniques such as hatha yoga.