The origins of yoga are not clear, but it likely developed in the 5th and 6th centuries BC.
PRE-HISTORY
As an oral tradition,
Before yoga was developed into a coherent system, the term 'yoga' was used in reference to many different practices. Some ritual, some philosophical, and some physical. Early signs of a yoga were found in the Indus Valley, where they made seals with persons in a common meditative pose. As ideas evolved between ascetics, hindus, buddhists, and jains, yoga began to develop into a philosophy that draws it's practice and knowledge from these other__________
The vedas and upanishads
Veda is the sanskrit term for 'knowledge,' and the Vedas are a lengthy collection of the earliest texts of ancient India.
Much of
Sometime between 200 BCE and 800 CE Patanjali's Yoga Sutras was written. The Yoga Sutras are a defining collection of 195 aphorisms that codify a yogic path. It is made up of 8 aspects, 4 external practices, 2 internal practices, and 2 innermost practices. Of these 8 practices, only one is the physical exercise of asana. The other external practices involve moral conduct, self-discipline, and breath work. . The remaining 4 practices elevate personal awareness through mental relaxation, concentration, and meditation, and ultimately self-realization. Patanjali also wrote texts about the medicinal system of ayurveda as well as Sanskrit grammar.
Currently yoga takes many many forms, especially focused on asana. The many schools of yoga in the west stemmed from the teachings of Krishnamacharya (1888- ). After years of study and practice with several teachers, Krishnamacharya impressed the Maharaja of Mysore with his skills. The Maharaja wanted to spread the wisdom of yoga and skills of asana and eventually sponsored a yoga school where Krishnamacharya would teach until it became unfunded in 1950. At this school what is now 'Astanga Vinyasa Yoga' was developed, which consolidated the 3000 poses Krishnamacharya knew, from the 7000 of his teachers, to standard sequences that were teachable to groups of students at similar ability levels.
Krishnamacharya taught two teachers whose styles have pervaded through the west. Astanga yoga, led by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, and Iyengar Yoga, developed by B.K.S. Iyengar.
Astanga style contains athletic sets of asana connected by breath and can be quite challenging to a beginner.
Iyengar style can also be challenging, but is excellent for beginners because it emphasizes holding a pose in correct alignment, especially with assistance from props and the teacher.
PRE-HISTORY
As an oral tradition,
Before yoga was developed into a coherent system, the term 'yoga' was used in reference to many different practices. Some ritual, some philosophical, and some physical. Early signs of a yoga were found in the Indus Valley, where they made seals with persons in a common meditative pose. As ideas evolved between ascetics, hindus, buddhists, and jains, yoga began to develop into a philosophy that draws it's practice and knowledge from these other__________
The vedas and upanishads
Veda is the sanskrit term for 'knowledge,' and the Vedas are a lengthy collection of the earliest texts of ancient India.
Much of
Sometime between 200 BCE and 800 CE Patanjali's Yoga Sutras was written. The Yoga Sutras are a defining collection of 195 aphorisms that codify a yogic path. It is made up of 8 aspects, 4 external practices, 2 internal practices, and 2 innermost practices. Of these 8 practices, only one is the physical exercise of asana. The other external practices involve moral conduct, self-discipline, and breath work. . The remaining 4 practices elevate personal awareness through mental relaxation, concentration, and meditation, and ultimately self-realization. Patanjali also wrote texts about the medicinal system of ayurveda as well as Sanskrit grammar.
Currently yoga takes many many forms, especially focused on asana. The many schools of yoga in the west stemmed from the teachings of Krishnamacharya (1888- ). After years of study and practice with several teachers, Krishnamacharya impressed the Maharaja of Mysore with his skills. The Maharaja wanted to spread the wisdom of yoga and skills of asana and eventually sponsored a yoga school where Krishnamacharya would teach until it became unfunded in 1950. At this school what is now 'Astanga Vinyasa Yoga' was developed, which consolidated the 3000 poses Krishnamacharya knew, from the 7000 of his teachers, to standard sequences that were teachable to groups of students at similar ability levels.
Krishnamacharya taught two teachers whose styles have pervaded through the west. Astanga yoga, led by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, and Iyengar Yoga, developed by B.K.S. Iyengar.
Astanga style contains athletic sets of asana connected by breath and can be quite challenging to a beginner.
Iyengar style can also be challenging, but is excellent for beginners because it emphasizes holding a pose in correct alignment, especially with assistance from props and the teacher.