Yoga has become a global phenomenon, but its roots are deep within India. Yoga’s history is a story of spirituality, physical fitness and inner peace.
The earliest mention of yoga is found in the Vedic culture that flourished in Northern India from 1500 – 500 BCE. Its practices and philosophy are described in the Upanishad scriptures.
Origins
Yoga is an ancient spiritual, physical and mental practice that combines breath control, meditation and movement. It is among the six schools of philosophy in Hinduism and a large part of Buddhist meditation practices. It is also a central aspect of Jain philosophy and one of the Upanishads.
Yoga’s history dates back to the Indus-Sarasvati civilization over 5,000 years ago with the first mention of yoga in the Rig Veda, which referred to songs, mantras and rituals used by Brahmans (Vedic priests). It wasn’t until about 500 BCE that yoga started to develop into what we think of today as an individual practice.
During the ‘Classical Period’ a yogi named Patanjali wrote a series of Sutras that established the foundation of the practice we know now as yoga. He described an ‘eight limbed path’ towards enlightenment and this philosophy still informs many styles of yoga practice.
Purpose
The purpose of yoga is to help individuals realize the truth about their own inner essence and the true nature of everything around them. It is a spiritual practice to connect with one’s deeper self and to achieve peace and happiness in this life.
Yoga’s mystical origins, its classical systematization, and its post-classical emphasis on spiritual liberation all came to fruition in different eras of Indian history. These three phases didn’t necessarily occur one after the other, but rather overlapped and interwove.
The post-classical period lasted from 200 BCE to 1700 AD. At this time, many yogic texts were written. For example, the Bhagavad Gita was written during this time. During this time, the practice of hatha yoga started to emerge. It incorporated physical exercises from martial arts and dance to help strengthen the body and build endurance. It also drew inspiration from the Samkhya philosophy, which is one of the six Indian philosophies.
Benefits
Practicing yoga can lead to better overall health and wellness. It has been shown to improve strength, flexibility and body awareness. In addition, it may relieve stress and help with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
The ancient yogic philosophy is much more than just physical exercise. It is a means to experience deeper spiritual truths about oneself and the universe. This is the true purpose of yoga.
Yoga entered the classical period from 500 BC to 800 AD and was incorporated into Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Lord Buddha emphasized the importance of a peaceful mind and meditation as a means to enlightenment.
Yoga began to morph into more of a physical practice with the introduction of Swami Vivekananda who lectured about yogic philosophy in Europe and North America in the 1890s. He introduced yoga to the Western world and his students incorporated hatha yoga with gymnastic movements, inspiring the Krishnamacharya lineage of B.K.S. Iyengar, TKV Desikachar and Pattabhi Jois to spread the modern postural form of yoga in the United States.
Practice
The practice of yoga has evolved and been popularized by many different yogis over the centuries. It is generally agreed that the late 1800s-1900s is when it really began to become a global phenomenon. Swami Vivekananda is often credited with introducing it to the West, but there were many other influential yogis who contributed to its development and popularity as well.
The earliest mention of yoga is found in the Rig Veda, which dates back to 1500 BC. But even before that, it is thought that the practice was in use as early as 2700 BC, based on seals and fossils found that depict people doing yoga.
The Katha Upanishad and Maitrayaniya Upanishad were composed a century or two later, and they begin to outline a yoga practice that includes breath control (pranayama), introspective withdrawal of the senses (pratyahara), meditation/mind concentration (dharana), philosophical inquiry/creative reasoning (tarka), and absorption/intense spiritual union (samadhi). These practices are still part of yoga today.