Hello there, my name is Elyce Elowen, and I have been taking up yoga for over ten years. I also help people follow steps in mastering a yoga exercise regime.
Today, we’ll dive deep into one of the most exciting questions: “Where did yoga originate?” For any yogi, from a rookie to one practicing for several years, learning about yoga’s origins is always enhancing your practice.
Today there are many myths and misconceptions about the history of yoga, so many people are interested in the yoga meaning.
If you are interested, you are at the right site. So today, let’s go back in time to find out more about where yoga originated, how it progressed, and why it is as influential now as it was ever before.
It is quite insightful knowing the historical background of yoga, so as to find the true correlation with its purpose and even soul.
Ready? Let’s get started!
What is Yoga?
Yoga is not merely stretching or posing in ways that involve holding one’s body up in certain positions.
It is one of those practices that involve every aspect of a person, including mental, physical, and soul.
The word Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word “yuj” which translates loosely as “to unite.” Yoga is a system of exercise with breath and mental control as the three major principles involved.
Currently, yoga is associated with various physical workouts, but it was established to deliver mental benefits and spiritual well-being.
To be more precise, yoga can be understood as a way to physical fitness and mental satisfaction.
Whether you’re practicing asana (poses), pranayama (breathing exercises), or meditation, the goal is the same: balance and harmony.
Yoga is now defined as and understood in this way, so let us turn to the next question, where did yoga originate?
Where Did Yoga Originate?
Yoga dates back at least 5, 000 years in the Indus Valley of ancient India. Some researchers claim that it may have been born as long ago as 10,000 years ago.
The first crude indications of yogic practice were timeline back to the Indus Valley civilization which is one of the oldest civilizations in the world.
The term ‘Yoga’ has been referred to in the antiquated sacred writing of India, the Rig Veda composed around 1500 BC.
Saying this, these articles suggest the earliest indications of Yoga where it served only as a ritual and a form of meditation to attain the Supreme self.
Sometime later this practice was transformed into the Upanishads and further in the Bhagavad Gita, a philosophical work produced no later than 200 BCE. [1]
History of Yoga
Pre-Classical Yoga:
Yoga was at this early stage thus more of a spiritual practice. It presupposed the use of meditation and rituals, as well as, self-control in the search for enlightenment.
Classical Yoga:
In about 200 BCE a worldly teacher known as Patanjali documented the Yoga Sutras, which outlined the tasks of yoga into eight branches.
From this text, it became easier to understand what modern yoga involves in terms of both the belief system as well as the physical exercises in yoga.
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Post-Classical Yoga:
In this phase, yoga masters using their creativity practiced new techniques with a concentration on the human body.
This consisted of different postures, breathing practices, and purging methods. From this tradition the modern yoga practice chartered today commonly known as Hatha yoga originated from.
Modern Yoga:
Yoga is believed to have been introduced into the Western world in the late 1800s and early 1900s by Yoga gurus such as Swami Vivekananda, and T. Krishnamacharya.
Yoga later developed the form that is recognized today: people practice yoga to improve their health and increase physical stamina, there are heavy Vinyasa, Ashtanga, and Iyengar Styles.
Benefits of Understanding About the Origin of Yoga
- Deepen Your Practice: Learning just where yoga arose helps you appreciate the thing more so every position and every meditation.
- Respect for Tradition: Understanding historical antecedents of yoga helps one develop better respect for institutions of spirituality.
- Improve Mental Focus: A lifestyle, when spare mind and time are given to understand the science behind Yoga, ceases to be just a physical exercise.
- Enhanced Mindfulness: When practicing with knowledge there is consciousness in every inhale and exhale and each movement, making it fulfilling. [2]
My Beneficial Tips And Suggestion
Since I have been practicing yoga for many years, the discovery of the source is an additional dimension to the practice.
Rather than doing movements mechanically, attempt to merge breath and purpose with all kinesthetic transactions.
That yoga is as old as thousands of years old helps one to have a feeling of tradition with every practice.
This is one virtue that makes yoga unique, from a stage where one barely can perform any yoga posture to an extent where one masters all the postures competitively.
My suggestion? Take a look at the further history and try to use it in learning the practice on and off the floor.
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Meditate Daily: At least five minutes of mindfulness – one is in tune with the essence of yoga.
Practice with Intention: In order to practice yoga as it was originally intended, find a reason to do yoga before beginning your practice.
Explore Different Styles: For the typical type of yoga, yoga Hatha; and more activity-encompassing yoga choose vinyasa.
Read the Classics: There are still many texts out there one can turn to to understand what yoga is; such as the Yoga Sutras, and the Bhagavad Gita.
Case Study
words of OldSchoolYoga:
Real Life Practical Example or Case Study of person (OldSchoolYoga)
Yoga history: It’s entirely possible that yoga originated in the prehistoric Indus Valley Civilization and there is some evidence that it also may have been practiced in ancient Egypt (the two were contemporary). Reddit
VeryFit Life Last Words
Where did yoga originate is not an easy question to answer for it brings about a historical journey about ancient India and so on.
The history of yoga is given below which shows that yoga has gone through a long process and has now become a popular exercise throughout the world.
Understanding where it comes from also makes a lot of difference in our practice so that we deal with it with respect that will translate to the best yoga experience.
I wrote this article based on the knowledge I have about yoga coupled with my experience of doing yoga, so I would like to remind you that yoga is more than just an exercise, it is a lifestyle.
Whether you are just practicing or have been practicing for years, I invite you to go back to the basics of Yoga. And it will not only make your movements better but also your mind and spirit.
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FAQs
What happened to yoga to make it a type of exercise rather than a religion?
Yoga initially meant a practice that mainly aimed at achieving union with God and similar goals.
Subsequently, as people evolved through the various epochs or stages known as the post-Classical age, not only mental but even bodily postures and breath control methods were incorporated into Yoga.
Today, the focus is a more muscle-conscious
approach, though the focus still rests on the three limbs – the mind, the body, and the spirit.
Yoga there and when are the first texts that mention yoga?
It is also mentioned in the Atharva Veda and the Yajur Veda, the oldest of which dates to around 1500 BC.
Further, the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, and the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali expounded on the philosophy and principles of yoga.
Is modern yoga the same as ancient yoga?
Modern yoga is not the original ancient. Now yoga is associated not only with the practice of meditation, philosophical lectures, and spiritual evolution but also with working out and flexibility, stress management, and relaxation.
However many practitioners choose to use both to reap all the advantages that come with the two.
Source:
What are the Origins of Yoga and What Has Changed? DoYogaWithMe.
Romeril P. What Is Yoga | How It’s Key Benefits Are Still Used Today. Melbourne Natural Therapies. Published April 8, 2023.
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