What are the Origins of Yoga and What Has Modified?

As a model new yogi, I used to be drawn by the alluring dance-like actions my academics guided us by means of at school. These asanas–they intrigued me. I turned stronger, extra versatile, and skilled a psychological readability I had bother harnessing earlier than. All due to my weekly yoga observe on the native studio.

I knew yoga originated in India, however I didn’t give it a lot thought. I assumed the observe I used to be partaking in was much like the one the traditional yogis had achieved years in the past. Why would we name it yoga in any other case?

Clearly the yogis of outdated had this entire bodily side of private refinement discovered. They had been match (or no less than very trim) and their minds had been clear. To me, the origins and historical past of yoga didn’t actually matter. I loved the usually amusing imagery and tales about Hindu gods that accompanied most of the poses, however in the end, I simply loved the outcomes.

The longer I practiced, the extra I began to surprise in regards to the little tidbits of data and historical past I acquired at school: What had been all these different practices and strategies, like purifications, Niyamas and Yamas, breathwork, and each day rituals? Why did my academics typically share Buddhist or Taoist quotes in a supposedly Hindu observe?  Who was Patanjali? And why are there so many alternative types of yoga?

On high of that, why did some academics not point out any of those ‘yogic tidbits’, and merely say “namaste” after a reasonably intense exercise?

One thing about my understanding of yoga wasn’t fairly proper. Amidst my bettering flexibility there have been too many lacking items. So, I enrolled to develop into a yoga trainer.

That marked the start of a course of that regularly taught me a lot of the historical past of yoga. Years of trainer trainings and research of conventional Indian artwork, and extra lately, analysis by James Mallinson and Mark Singleton, together with the collective dialogue round appropriation within the yoga world, helped me to attach the dots between the origins of yoga and the way it has modified over time. 

The reality is the type of widespread yoga that a lot of the world engages in right this moment (even in India) is significantly completely different from the historic or unique practices of yoga.

This text is a condensed model of what I’ve discovered over time about these ‘yogic tidbits’ concerning the origins of yoga and the way it has modified. 

The place and when did yoga originate?

The quick reply: In India about 5 to 10 thousand years in the past, relying on who you speak to.

As a result of the tales and teachings of yoga had been shared orally or written on palm fronds that would simply decompose, figuring out the precise date (and placement!) is nearly inconceivable. What we’ve recognized, although, presents itself within the Rig Veda – a part of a sequence of historical sacred Hindu texts known as Vedas from Northern India about 5,000 years in the past. Right here, the time period ‘yoga’ emerged in its first documented kind.

In yogic lore, Shiva is the primary Yogi and Guru, predating any faith or perception system. He poured his profound data of yoga into seven sages who dispersed and shared this information around the globe. 

Curiously, comparable asana practices and yogic science emerged around the globe, maybe explaining why Buddhists, Jains, Muslims and even atheists lay declare to sure yoga strategies. As concepts, languages, and cultures go, many alternative teams had been exploring comparable ideas on the similar time. Once they crossed paths, data was shared and expanded upon. 

This explains why typically completely different non secular ideas have made their means into our widespread yoga lessons, and why I used to be so confused to listen to the Buddha quoted by my trainer throughout savasana. 

However, yoga solidly discovered its seat in India and Hinduism, the place it developed into its fullest expression. 

Yoga was slowly refined and developed by the Brahmans and Rishis (mystic seers) who documented their practices and beliefs within the upanishads, an enormous work containing over 200 scriptures. The upanishads emphasised the dismantling of the ego by specializing in self-study, karma yoga (motion) and jnana yoga (knowledge).  Round 500 BCE, probably the most famend yogic scriptures was written: The Baghavad Gita. The teachings on this scripture about human existence and grappling with wishes, doubt, objective, and obligation are nonetheless broadly studied and shared right this moment. 

Later, throughout the ‘Classical Interval,’ a yogi and scholar named Patanjali wrote a group of Sanskrit sutras (teachings) on the speculation and observe of yoga. This assortment is the primary systematic presentation of yoga we’ve so far. Patanjali organized the observe of yoga into an “eight limbed path” containing the steps and phases towards acquiring Samadhi or enlightenment. He’s typically thought of the ‘father of yoga’ and his Yoga-Sûtras nonetheless affect most types of contemporary yoga.

So, what did the teachings and observe of yoga seem like again then?

When yoga first started, and for 1000’s of years afterward, its focus was on the refined slightly than grand gestures or asana (yoga poses). As such, conventional yoga is a physique of data, handed on from elders and gurus to disciples and the common individual. It was (and nonetheless is for individuals who observe this fashion) an artwork and science of wholesome dwelling; its objective is to deliver concord to the thoughts and physique–and by extension, the group and full universe. 

This concord was completed by means of observances and practices reminiscent of meditation, self-study, scripture studying, ethical codes, breathwork, and each day rituals. Yoga addressed physique, thoughts, emotion, and power and had little or no to do with the ‘asana’ observe we typically affiliate with widespread yoga right this moment.

Throughout this time there was certainly a small postural element to the observe of yoga, but it surely was such a small limb of the teachings that almost all gurus didn’t emphasize it. Usually the extra bodily postures/asana had been solely carried out by those that weren’t extremely regarded and low within the caste system. 

What a far cry from right this moment’s asana-heavy observe of yoga!

How and when did yoga begin to become the observe we all know right this moment?

It wasn’t till 1000’s of years after the Rig Veda after which Patanjali’s Yogic Sutras that yoga started to morph right into a extra bodily observe and make its means into the West. ‘Hatha Yoga’ emerged from varied sources at the moment, and by the 1893 Chicago World Truthful, Swami Vivekananda’s lectures sparked a need for data of Yogic Philosophy in North America. 

With the affect of widespread gymnastics and bodily routines spreading from Europe and North America round this time, the observe of yoga started to include extra bodily actions. The significance of bodily ‘fit-ness’ started to rise and acquire recognition amongst academics in India. 

In 1918, an Indian guru named Shri Yogendra based what’s now the oldest organized yoga middle on this planet: The Yoga Institute of Mumbai. He’s typically known as the “Father of the Trendy Yoga Renaissance” and taught asana based mostly yoga. Notably, his life accomplice, Sita Devi Yogendra “Mom” was instrumental in encouraging ladies of their group to do yoga–a observe that had beforehand been dominated by males. 

1924 marked the 12 months Krishnamacharya opened an influential Hatha Yoga Faculty in Mysore.

A number of of his college students proved to be direct influencers of the fashionable yogic motion: B.Ok.S. Iyengar, T.Ok.V. Desikachar, Indra Devi and Pattabhi Jois. A plethora of yoga faculties focusing on Hatha Yoga and the extra gymnastic/bodily types of yoga thrived in each India and North America from this level on. 

Indra Devi, one of many first feminine academics within the West, opened her influential yoga studio in Hollywood in 1947. Concurrently, B.Ok.S. Iyengar unfold his bodily teachings of yoga around the globe and gave inspiring demonstrations of his excessive flexibility on TV and in individual within the UK and USA. 

In 2004, Time journal named B.Ok.S. Iyengar one of many 100 most influential folks on this planet, maybe a mirrored image of how the bodily features of yoga have been so celebrated by the West throughout the trendy age. 

How is yoga completely different from earlier than?

As alluded to above, the observe of yoga has developed a lot because the creation of the Rig Veda and the Bhagavad Gita. Individuals of all walks of life and all sexual orientations now observe and train yoga, and the observe itself has develop into rather more bodily than earlier than. 

When observing the observe of yoga as a complete, one can succinctly sum the variations up in a sentence by trainer Prasad Rangnekar: “Initially yoga was a physique of data. At the moment, yoga is data of physique.”

In different phrases, the yoga observe at the moment taught at hottest, mainstream yoga studios is closely asana- based mostly with extra relation to gymnastics and motion remedy than the medieval and conventional yogic practices. To say nonetheless, that in right this moment’s world your complete yogic technique of self-refinement and group care has been popularly diminished to merely bodily observe just isn’t totally honest.

Like the wonder and variety of human existence, so are the teachings of yoga academics around the globe. While you attend completely different yoga lessons, one can find that some academics spend a lot time emphasizing the significance of conventional yogic philosophy, and the way to incorporate it into your life. Often you’ll discover a trainer really rooted within the conventional teachings of yoga, as they had been taught in Patanjali’s sutras and past. 

Then again, you’ll in all probability discover extra lessons titled ‘yoga’ by which the trainer mentions not a single philosophy however guides you thru a sequence of poses and bodily actions to strengthen and stretch your physique, ending merely with ‘namaste’. The vary is extensive! However refusing to acknowledge yoga’s true roots additionally steps into the tender area of cultural appropriation. 

Mark Singleton, a researcher and thinker on yoga, suggests one other means of trying on the relation between conventional types of yoga and right this moment’s gymnastics-like-yoga: as homonyms as an alternative of figuring out as the identical observe–which they’re clearly not. I like this view, though it’s definitely nonetheless complicated. Previous and current descriptions use the identical identify: yoga! How are we to know which is which?

In the end, yoga has been shifting and altering since its inception, as all of us do. Gurus, yogis, students, and the on a regular basis individual now have various concepts of what yoga means or identifies as and have over the course of its existence. This debate, and unsureness is nothing new. 

So, am I truly practising yoga? (Cue existential disaster!)

I imagine that as accountable practitioners (and academics) we have to really take into account what precisely we’re striving for after we observe yoga. To depend the fashionable, widespread asana targeted type of yoga as lesser than the normal practices doesn’t enable for the house and worth in yoga’s immense historical past that this contemporary type holds. 

Consciousness of the extent and broadness of yogic historical past and observe provides us the ability to look out academics and texts to assist us be taught additional in regards to the depth of teachings of yogic philosophy. Asana observe could serve you for a lot of seasons of your life, however for those who discover that you’re wanting extra, for those who’re prepared for the arduous, self-study and devotion that comes with different features of a standard yoga observe, you possibly can search them out too. 

In different phrases, sure! You’re practising yoga!

From 5000 years in the past to now, the human situation, the tendency towards struggling, insecurities and ache has not modified a lot. The standard types of yoga are simply as effectively suited to assist ease this type of struggling as ever–so for those who haven’t tried them but, now is perhaps the time! 

I want you all the very best in your yogic journey and hope that this text has offered some readability across the origins of yoga and the way it has modified over time. If in case you have any questions or wish to add, please remark beneath! 

And now, I’ll go away you with a quote from the Authorities of India concerning yoga’s transformation:

“Yoga Sadhana of all hues and colours is taken into account panacea for a significant life and dwelling. Its orientation to a complete well being, each particular person and social, makes it a worthy observe for the folks of all religions, races and nationalities… Yoga is blossoming, and rising extra vibrant every single day.”

Sources

1. Baitmangalkar, Arundhati and Prasad Rangnekar. “The Origins of Yoga with Prasad Rangnekar.” Let’s Speak Yoga, episode 55, Aham Yoga, Inc. 2 Aug. 2022, https://letstalk.yoga/episode/the-origins-of-yoga-with-prasad-rangnekar/
    
2. Basavaraddi, Ishwar V. “Mea: Statements : In Focus Articles.” Ministry of Exterior Affairs, Authorities of India, https://mea.gov.in/in-focus-article.htm?25096percent2FYogapercent2BItspercent2BOriginpercent2BHistorypercent2Bandpercent2BDevelopment.
    
3. Burgin, Timothy. “Historical past of Yoga.” Yoga Fundamentals, 25 Oct. 2011, https://www.yogabasics.com/be taught/history-of-yoga/.
    
4. Chatterjee, Rituparna. “The Extraordinary Story of the Lady Who Took Yoga from India to the World.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 15 July 2016, https://www.huffpost.com/archive/in/entry/indra-devi-yoga_n_7626228.
    
5. Goldberg, Michelle. The Goddess Pose: The Audacious Lifetime of Indra Devi, the Lady Who Helped Carry Yoga to the West. Classic Books, A Division of Penguin Random Home, 2016.
    
6. Mallinson, James. Roots of Yoga. Penguin Books, 2017.
    
7. Remski, Matthew. “10 Issues We Didn’t Know About Yoga Till This New Should-Learn Dropped.” Yoga Journal, 12 Apr. 2017, https://www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/history-of-yoga/whos-who-in-the-future-of-yoga/.
    
8. Singleton, Mark. Yoga Physique: The Origins of Trendy Posture Apply. Oxford College Press, 2010.
    
9. Yogendra Ji. “World’s Oldest Yoga Institute – The Yoga Institute.” World’s Oldest Yoga Institute – The Yoga Institute, https://theyogainstitute.org/.