Yoga History and Evolution
Yoga is as old as
civilization. Early Upanishads,
the Bhagavadgita and the Yoga
sutras of Patanjali are
universally accepted as
constituting the verbal
foundation of the Yoga
tradition. Among these, the Yoga
Sutras provide the basis and
inspiration for most of today's
tradition of Yoga.
Yoga's
classical definition is derived
from the Sanksrit root "Yuj",
meaning:
"to
unite, to integrate or to cohere
and is thus taken represent the
highest state of union,
integration or coherence between
individual or personal or human
consciousness and cosmic or
universal or divine
consciousness."
The History of
Yoga
Yoga is probably the oldest
defined practice of self
development. It originally came
from India it dates back over
five thousand years ago. The
Indian sage Pantajali, in his
Yoga sutras defines yoga as the
control of activities of ones
minds. Yoga is founded on the
belief of the progress of self
awareness. Through the practice
of yoga an individual can gain
information about physical,
emotional, mental and spiritual
well being. In the course of
knowledge and practice of yoga
the awareness encourages the
individual to adjust and changes
the aspects of their nature and
become more aware of your
attuned and life. The methods of
yoga includes ethical
disciplines, physical postures,
breathing control and as well as
meditation. As defined by
Patanjali, classical yoga has an
eight stages process of
spiritual development known as
the ‘eight limbs of yoga”. Yoga
is not a series of consecutive
steps, but a continuous and
changing process that helps to
clears away the mental
obscurities that prevent us from
seeing clearly. The Sanskrit
names for the eight limbs of
yoga are:
Yama
- attitudes towards other people
and our world
Niyam
- attitudes about ourselves
Asana
- practice of
using/improving the body
Pranayama - practice of
using/controlling the breath
Pratyahara - use and
self-control of our senses
Dharana
- capability to direct the mind
Dhyana
- capability to interact
with the object of our
concentration
Samadhi
- incorporation within the
object of our concentration
Benefits of Yoga
There are many benefits that
individual can gain from the
practice of yoga. At the
physical level, yoga can act as
a cleansing process that has
proven to be extremely effective
for various disorders. Here are
some of the benefits of yoga
practice:
Increasing flexibility –
there are positions in yoga that
act upon the various joints of
the body including those joints
that we never really use.
Increasing lubrication of the
joints, ligaments and tendons
– by practicing various yoga
positions individual can start
experiencing a remarkable
flexibility in parts of the
joints, ligaments and tendons.
Research has shown that “non
strenuous” yoga positions can
act upon certain parts of the
body in an interrelated manner.
If combined together they work
in harmony to create
flexibility.
Massaging to all organs of
the body – Research has
shown the yoga exercise is
probably the only form of
activity that massages all of
the internal glands and organs
of the body to promoted good
health and well-being.
Complete detoxification –
yoga exercise helps to gently
stretch the muscles and joints
allowing the optimum blood
supply to various parts of the
body. This helps to flush out
the toxins in the body. Hence,
leading to benefits such as
delayed in ageing, providing
energy and a remarkable zest for
life.
Excellent toning of the
muscles – yoga can heal
muscles that have become flaccid
and weak. By practicing yoga it
can encourage repeated
stimulation that helps to shed
excess flab and flaccidity.
Provide balancing of the
nervous system – yoga is a
great form of mediation that can
balance the nervous system.
Reduction of stress –
because yoga is a slow and
gentle form of exercise combined
with a control breathing
exercise it can promote
relaxation to the body.
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