Origins Of Yoga

Staying fit and in good health has become a big emphasis in today’s society. Many forms of exercise have evolved in one way or another to fit the needs of those seeking to stay fit.

Not many people realize that yoga has many similar movements as ballet. Many people will begin practicing yoga for the flexibility advantages that it offers. Even though there are things that yoga has in common with other exercises, there are numerous other benefits to studying it. Its popularity has increased over the years in western society and is now considered the fashionable way to get into shape. It might seem like a new form of exercise, but it has actually been around for centuries originating from Eastern cultures with spiritual roots.

Due to Western culture modernizing yoga, much of the spiritual side of it is forgotten, and is viewed upon as simply a new form of exercising. In the beginning yoga was a spiritual practice, but the movements have remained the same. In the past, yoga was considered as a small piece of the puzzle, but today yoga is viewed the entire puzzle. The true meaning and purpose of yoga has been forgotten.

The origin of yoga can’t be traced exactly, but there is evidence of it beginning roughly around the same time when the seals of the Indus Valley civilization were discovered. Figures are depicted in the lotus position at around 300 BCE. The vedas were being written at about this same time which are the source of modern day yoga exercises. The culture of the Vedas created the ancient Indian obsession with yoga rituals and sacrifice. The importance of sacrifice is demonstrated in the yogic corpse asana.

It involves lying as if placed in a coffin, signifying death, the greatest of sacrifices. This is deeply meaningful, even though it might seem morbid today. The corpse pose meant that one understood that according to the Veda’s teachings, death leads to freedom.

The meaning of the word yoga can be translated as “union”, the joining of the spiritual and physical worlds. Versus 4:4, 13-14 of the Vedanta Sutras state that material possessions are not attractive to a free soul. The idea of this is to be able to liberate ourselves from material objects that only have meaning in this life.

In modern day yoga self-sacrifice is also possible. Through practice of stillness and asanas, our outlook can be changed. It will feel as though we are a part of the whole and we will discover that giving is the same as helping ourselves since we are all one.

Yoga, in the ancient days, was seen as a small part of a whole. Centuries ago, yoga focused on breath work and postures amid the betterment of the mind, body and spirit. But today, yoga concentrates more on postures and less on breathing. Yoga’s postures and concentration on breathing do offer tremendous advantages. The medical benefits of yoga include increase in flexibility and energy, reduces stress, improves muscle strength and tone, reduces depression, and improves balance and coordination.

Tags: Yoga