A Brief History of Yoga

Yoga did not start out as a form of exercise for ancient man.  Obviously.  But, I was curious, exactly how far back does yoga go?  After reading multiple articles on the subject, one thing that is known for sure is that we really don’t know. 

So much of ancient civilization was passed down by word of mouth, from one teacher to the next making it really difficult to determine its true beginning.  One article I read indicates that researchers believe it could date back 10,000 years.  But, the earliest documentation dates back 5,000 years ago to 3,000 B.C.  The Indus-Sarasvati civilization was one of the largest (extending over 300,000 miles) and most advanced in history pre-dating the Romans.  Within the ruins of this ancient civilization, historians have found yogi-like figures carved into stone walls.

Yoga can be divided up into four different periods, each with its own unique version of yoga.  

Vedic Yoga

Preclassical Yoga

Classical Yoga

Modern or Postclassical Yoga

Vedic Yoga:

Named after the Rig-Veda, one of the four canonical sacred texts of Hinduism known as the Vedas, the text is a compilation of hymns praising a higher power.  Vedic yoga was very closely connected to the ritualistic life of the people of this time (Between 3,500 and 2,500 years ago), and revolved around the idea that sacrifice could be used to join the physical world with the spiritual world.  This required intense prolonged concentration of the mind, which is why this era is characterized by the striving to surpass the limitations of the mind.

Preclassical Yoga:

Preclassical yoga is associated with the Upanishands, which means the inner or mystic teaching.  This text is a collection of works that contain some of the central philosophical concepts of Hinduism, which are also shared with Buddhism and Jainism.  According to A Short History of Yoga by Feuerstein, these texts illustrate the teachings of the unity of all things, and can be likened to the New Testament.  Its message is not to turn the other cheek, but to actively oppose evil in the world.  To be alive means to be active and, if we want to avoid difficulties for ourselves and others, our actions must be benign and also go beyond the grip of the ego.

Essentially, the Upanishands builds off of the Vedas, like the New Testament off of the Old Testament, thus meditation is still important in this period.

Classical Yoga:

This period is tied to the Yoga-sutra, taught by Patanjali.  This is sometimes called eightfold yoga, after the below eight “limbs”:

1. Yama – Social restrains or ethical values
2. Niyama – Personal observance of purity, tolerance, and study
3. Asanas – Physical exercises
4. Pranayama – Control of breath
5. Pratyahara – The sense of withdrawal in preparation of meditation
6. Dharana – Concentration
7. Dhyana – Meditation
8. Samadhi – Ecstasy

These eight limbs lay the groundwork from which modern yoga postures have grown.  It’s hard to reach enlightenment, but through this process, Patanjali begins with physical and ends with mental.

Postclassical Yoga: 

Postclassical yoga is different from the earlier periods because it teaches the yogi to accept reality and live in the moment, as opposed to liberating oneself.  Modern yoga was introduced in the United States in 1893 by Swami “master” Vivekanadanda at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago.  In the 1930’s, yoga was looked at as more of a health movement along with vegetarianism.  Yoga only continued to grow from there into what it is today.