Basic History Of Yoga

Yoga started in India, many thousand years ago with the word Yoga being derived from the Sanskrit language.



It means, to join or integrate, or simply unite. Yoga began, as far as human knowledge goes, as part of India's spiritual system.



However, not all Indians practiced Yoga,. Moreover, Yoga has never been a religion.

Around 5 million people in the United States practise some form of Yoga or the other.



Actually, there exist more than a few types of Yoga in the world today, the 2 most important of which are Hatha Yoga and Raja Yoga. Hatha Yoga has 3 parts,

• A series of exercises or movements called asana (poses or postures in English)
• Breathing techniques of all kinds, called pranayama and
• Relaxation.

Yoga, as mentioned above, is drawn from the root “Yujir Yogey” in the sacred Sanskrit language of India. The term itself means to unite, yoke or harness.  The practice of Yoga thus leads to a unity of the mind and body. It also means union of the individual and universal consciousness.  

Yoga predates all other religions. It has even impacted and inspired a number of other traditions and philosophies of the world.  In fact, there is just no other discipline even remotely as deep and profound as Yoga. This is because Yoga utilizes the body, mind and spirit, all in one practice.  Indeed, Yoga is a spiritual path. It is based on an age-old sacred philosophy; however you don’t have to make an ethical decision it you want to practice it. Rather finding your own path is wholly accepted, when practising Yoga.

The holistic benefits of Yoga are myriad and manifold. For this reason, Yoga has been found an appropriate therapy for the young or old, sick or well, regardless of religious background.  The secrets of Yoga lie in introversion, concentration, and cleansing the body and mind with purifying one’s thoughts and food. Indian philosophy avers that within every individual (jiva) lies the spirit, which is the center of everything.  Inner stability and balance is the foundation and the flooring for the higher knowledge.