No one is very sure about the history of Yoga; however, speculation has it that yoga originated from the East. With the archeological discovery of the Indus civilization, it is estimated that the practice of yoga began around 5000 years ago in India. The following are the four historical periods of yoga:
Vedic Period
This period is marked by the existence of the Vedas. The Vedas are literature containing the ancient scriptures of Brahmanism which is the foundation of today's Hinduism. It is a comprehensive collection of facts and guides to the concepts of the Hindu religion. The Vedas are believed not to have been written by human beings but are believed to have been passed on by word of mouth from generation to generation. Vedas are the oldest known instructions of yoga now known as Vedic Yoga which mainly include ceremonies and rituals that try to make the mind limitless. During the Vedic period, the people believed in conducting rituals as a way of life.
Pre-Classical Period
Pre-Classical Yoga is marked by the creation of the Upanishads which further explain the teachings of the Vedas. The Upanishads comprise of 200 scriptures which explain the otherworldly self and the epitome reality and the connection between them.
During this period, around 500 B.C, the Lord's song known as the Gita was created. It is currently the oldest known literature devoted to Yoga. The Gita advocates that our lives should incorporate selfless action, loving devotion and knowledge or contemplation.
Classical Period
This is the period when the Yoga Sutra came to light. It was written by Patanjali and encompasses the eight limbs of yoga. These are the yama, niyama, pratyahara, asanas, dharana, dhyana, pranayama and samadhi. He believed that each person is made up of spirit and matter. Through yoga, Patanjali was able to separate the two composites thereby restoring the spirit to its most pure of forms. This differs from the Vedic and Pre-Classical periods which believed in the conjoining of the mind and spirit.
Post-Classical Period
This period of yoga contradicts with Patanjali's work and strives to teach and affirms that everything is unified as is taught in the first three periods of yoga. Yoga instructors created advanced practices that would enliven the body and increase its lifespan. This is what led to Hatha yoga which is currently the most practiced of all types of yoga in the world.
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