The History of Yoga Through the Centuries
Many people practice yoga for its many benefits on the body and mind, but do not really know the origin or even the centuries-old history of yoga , dating back to before the 7th century BC. It is much more than postures and breathing exercises, it is a whole philosophy and wisdom hidden behind it, thanks to founding texts . Born in the cradle of India , yoga was later imported to the West to form the discipline that you know today with all the different types of yoga.
In search of the origins of yoga
Yoga, a word coming from the Sanskrit '' jug '' which translates to unite and connect , which means to harmonize the body and mind. This term is found in particular in the Rig-Veda (hymns of praise) from the 15th century BC . However, it did not designate the same thing as today.
Birth of yoga in India
Yoga first appeared in India, during Antiquity . It is first mentioned in the Upanishads (texts serving as the basis of the Hindu religion) around the 7th century BC. These writings transcribe experiences of meditation and breathing. Subsequently, the word yoga appears in several spiritual manuscripts, designating a practice uniting the mind with the body in order to be happier and more serene.
The emergence of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
Between the 2nd century BC and the 5th century , the Yoga Sûtras written by Patanjali finally came to structure the discipline of yoga that you know today. These are the reference texts of the practice composed of 4 chapters and no less than 195 sutras . This is the true root of yoga ! The various forms of yoga are inspired by these writings as a basis, such as Hatha (around the 12th century) the oldest, Iyengar (in the 20th century), Kundalini and Yoga Nidra.
The practice of yoga spread in the West
From the 16th century onwards, more and more exchanges took place between the East and the West, thereby promoting the circulation of texts on yoga. However, it was in the 19th century that manuscripts began to be translated .
It was also during this period that the greats of yoga appeared: Ramakrishna, Vivekananda, Iyengar, Bikram Choudhury and Krishnamacharia who created a Hatha school in 1924 in India. This type of yoga was the first to be widespread in the West, following the Second World War. This is where new forms emerged: Ashtanga (in the 60s), Iyengar (in the 70s), Bikram (around the 80s), Yin yoga (arrived around the 90s), Vinyasa , etc.
Today, yoga is accessible to the general public and is mostly considered a gentle medicine in its own right, in particular to find emotional and physical harmony . A practice that is mixed with a true art of living on a daily basis.
Want to learn about the oldest form of yoga? Check out the Hatha Yoga article on the blog.
