Ancient History of Yoga – Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh

History of Yoga

Yoga consists of mental, spiritual, and physical practices that originated in ancient India. In the Rig Veda, the first Mention of the word “Yoga” was found. The purpose of Yoga is to bring about physical and mental change in a person. In Jainism, Buddhism, and Hinduism, the Yoga practices are not only associated with stances and postures but also involve physical activity and exercises. The practice of Yoga has been around for thousands of years. The practice of Yoga can be traced back approximately 5,000 years, but some researchers also believe that Yoga is around 10,000 years old. The history of Yoga has been divided into four main periods of practice, innovation, and development.

Pre-classical Yoga:

The word “Yoga” was first developed in the oldest sacred book, the Rigveda. Brahmins and rishis developed Yoga. The Bhagavad Gita was the most renowned yogic scripture.

Classical Yoga:

The classical period is marked by Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, which represent the first systematic presentation of Yoga. Patanjali is considered the father of Yoga, and his Yoga Sutras influence styles of modern Yoga.

Post-classical Yoga:

The Yoga masters created a system designed to rejuvenate the body and promote prolonged life. They rejected the teaching of the ancient Vedas and developed Tantra Yoga.

Modern Period:

In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Yoga masters traveled to the West to attract the attention of the largest number of Yoga followers. The Hatha Yoga was strongly promoted in India. Hatha Yoga has many different schools.

There are various benefits of Yoga exercises. Some of the benefits of Yoga are mentioned below:

1. Being healthy means not only being physically fit, but also emotionally and mentally balanced. The packages offered by Yoga, such as pranayama and meditation, are among the fitness packages. The practice of Yoga helps improve our health, protects our body against injury, increases our physical and mental strength, and detoxifies our body, thereby enhancing our overall well-being.
2. The practice of Yoga helps with weight loss.
3. Yoga helps relieve stress. Yoga helps alleviate both physical and mental stress. Pranayama, meditation, and Yoga postures are specific techniques of Yoga that help alleviate stress.
4. The practice of Yoga helps improve our immunity. Meditation is one of the best exercises that helps relieve stress and boost immunity.
5. The practice of Yoga helps increase our energy. If a person is tired or frustrated with their daily routine, Yoga helps provide relief to both their mind and body.

Yoga is a continuous process that should be done daily. If you practice Yoga daily, then you will reap all the benefits of Yoga.

Read More – What is Vinyasa Yoga?