A Brief History of Yoga
The history of yoga is always debated as there is no clear consensus on the chronology and details of its history.
In this article I provide my understanding and interpretation of the most common version of the history of events.
Yoga is a mind and body practice with a 5,000-year history in ancient Indian philosophy. The word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit word “yuj,” which means to yoke or unite. Yoga is often translated as “union,” but it can also mean “discipline” or “practice.”
The earliest evidence of yoga practice can be found in the Indus Valley Civilization, which flourished in north western India from 2600 to 1900 BCE. Seals and figurines from this period depict people in yoga poses.
The first written records of yoga are found in the Vedas, the sacred texts of Hinduism. The Vedas mention yoga as a way to achieve spiritual enlightenment. This traditional yoga practice was primarily a practice for ascetics or renunciates, mainly consisting of meditation and breathing techniques to achieve such enlightenment.
200 BCE to 200 CE, the sage Patanjali wrote the Yoga Sutras, a foundational text of yoga philosophy. The Yoga Sutras describe the eight limbs of yoga, which are a systematic approach to physical, mental, and spiritual development.
Yoga has continued to organically change and grow with new texts, to include the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Gherenda Samhita, and Shiva Samhita. Although the first records of yoga were found in the Vedas sacred texts of Hinduism, it is not exclusive, with other religions such as Jainism and Buddhism containing mentions of practices of yoga in their classical texts.
Yoga spread to other parts of Asia, including China, Tibet, and Southeast Asia. It was also introduced to the western world in the 19th and 20th centuries. In the 1890s Swami Vivekananda came to lecture around Europe and the United States. It is believed that even his version of yoga still had its ancient origins in philosophy and spiritual practice.
In the early ancient texts postures were mentioned, although not many were listed. It was not until later in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that yoga postures became the primary practice of yoga, growing to thousands of different postures.
Many years later, in the early 20th century, Shri Yogendra and Swami Kuvalayananda blended hatha yoga with western gymnastics practices, inspiring the Krishnamacharya lineage, including B.K.S. Iyengar, T.K.V. Desikachar, and Pattabhi Jois to teach modern postural yoga in the United States.
Yoga is a living tradition practiced by millions of people around the world and continues to evolve today. There are many different styles of yoga, each with its own unique approach, all of them share the goal of uniting the mind, body, and spirit.
Colonisation Of Yoga
During the British colonial period in India, yoga was banned by the British East India Company. The British empire saw yoga as a form of superstition and a threat to their rule. As a result, many yogis were forced to flee their homes and practise in secret. It is believed that this led to a catastrophic loss of knowledge and the breaking of lineages that are essential in passing down the essence of yogic wisdom.
After India gained independence, yoga began to be revived and popularised throughout the country. However, it was often presented in a way that was removed from its spiritual and philosophical roots. This was due in part to the influence of Western cultures, which tend to focus on the Western gymnastics’ physical aspects of yoga rather than its spiritual dimensions.
Yoga is both a physical and a deeply philosophical tradition that as a yogi must be understood, appreciated, and embraced in keeping with the true depth of yoga practice. It can have a profound impact on each and every one who honours it.
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Author: Angela Taffinder the founder of Emporium Treatment Clinic. A practising Aesthetician for 35+ years, holistic and wellbeing advocate and yoga instructor. The creator of Yoga & Vitality.