The History Of Yoga In India | A Brief History Of Yoga

The History Of Yoga In India | A Brief History Of Yoga
Website: http://www.yogiaux.com
Date: 05/20/2017
By : Yogi Auxiliary Inc.
Let The History Of Yoga In India Begin
What comes to mind when you hear the word "yoga"? Probably a person who twists into all sorts of painful poses. Poses or postures ("asanas" as they're referred to in the yoga discipline) are one of the most important aspects of the history of yoga. Before you start exploring the history of yoga in India, it is important to have a few clear understandings.
The Meaning Of Yoga ?
The yoga discipline is defined as a Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline, a part of which , including breath control, simple meditation and the adoption of specific bodily postures, is widely practiced for health and relaxation. The exact date where the yoga discipline came into this world is something that cannot be pinpointed. However, the specific date that yoga discipline originated is less important when compared to the knowledge of the yoga discipline itself. The meaning of yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word “yuj” which means “to yoke, to harness, to unite, to join”. In ancient India, a person would bring an ox under control by “yoking” or “harnessing” it to a wagon. In other words, people considered it as an excellent method available for them to train and unite the entire mind, body and spirit. This motivated the people in India to carry forward the practice, while incorporating the changes along with time.
The Development Of The History Of Yoga In India
The practice of the yoga discipline has a rich history, which dates back to more than 5,000 years ago. As per yoga folklore, Shiva (which literally translates to “that which is not”) was a being that originated in the banks of Lake Kantisarovar, located in the Himalayas, and is considered the first ever yogi or guru. Ādiyogi (translates to “the first yogi or guru”) distributed the knowledge & mental benefits of yoga that he had to seven different sages (“someone venerated for the possession of wisdom, judgment, and experience, wise men”). These seven sages carried to different parts of the world, including South America, Northern Africa, Middle East and Asia the knowledge of the mental benefits of yoga. However, it is important to keep in mind that the yoga discipline discovered its maximum expression within India. Saptarishi (“the seven sages or wise men”) and Agastya (one of the seven sages, wise men) contributed a lot towards the development of yoga by spreading it across the sub-continent.
History Of Yoga's Health Benefits
Yoga received a lot of attention among people from every corner of the world after the 1890s, due to its amazing health benefits. In others words, Westerners got to know about the mental benefits of yoga by the beginning of 19th century.
Hatha Yoga Benefits In The West
Hatha yoga (which translates to “force”, is a branch of yoga that emphasizes physical exercises to master the body along with mind exercises to withdraw it from external objects) became popular among people in United States during the late 1930s. The popularity of Hatha yoga increased exponentially and it reached the peak during 1960s. As a result, yoga teachers from India were requested to come and educate people in United States on yoga's benefits. During the 21st century, Yoga had become extremely popular and practiced by more than 20 million individuals in all parts of the world