History was never one of my favorite subjects. In fact, when we began to cover yogic history during my Teacher Training program, I was initially one of the antsiest kids in the room. I am, by nature, a very physical and high energy person and was anxious to begin moving through the physical postures of yoga. However, in spite of myself, I found myself growing increasingly full of awe toward the history of yoga. So few things in which I daily participate are thousand + year old traditions. Yoga is the happy exception.
Yoga has been around for thousands of years. In fact, some of the first references to yoga happened in a time now referred to as the Vedic Period, which dates between 2000-1000 BCE (that is a LONG time ago, folks). Articles from this time period are scant, but those that still exist refer to breath control, basic philosophy and spirituality. This period is far before any of the physical postures that we know today as yoga even began to exist. In fact the word asana, which today refers to any physical yoga posture, simply means to take the seat. The first yoga posture was sitting. If you practiced Mountain Pose at all yesterday afternoon with my posture clinic, you probably know that sitting (like standing) is much harder than it sounds.
At around 1000 BCE (a period now defined as the Pre-Classical Period), the word yoga is first encountered by name. The earliest Upanishads, which are orally philosophical texts comprising the basis of the Hindu religion are composed during this time. Still, no evidence of physical postures exists.
At around 500 BCE (The Epic Period), the distinct physical and spiritual practice which we know as yoga begins to take form. This period is so named for the many adventure and battle-laden tales (epics) which are composed during this period, including but not limited to the Mahabhrata, the Bhagavad Gita and the later Upanishads.
The Bhagavad Gita is a LONG text. If you are interested in checking it out, click here to be redirected to a site that will offer an English translation of many chapters and verses. Trying to dive headfirst into any huge spiritual text can be really, really overwhelming. Feel free to look around and explore more on your own over time. Do not be discouraged if what you find does not inspire anything in you-- like all major spiritual texts, the Gita is best returned to many times over the course of a life. The Bhagavad Gita outlines in detail attitudes and actions which are thought to be righteous and conducive toward divinity.
In 200 BCE (defined as the Classical Period), a sage and yogic scholar named Pantanjali writes the Yoga Sutra, which is now considered to be the backbone of most modern forms of yoga. This text includes something called the Eight-Limbed Path. The Eight-Limbed Path is basically a set of guidelines for how to live a meaningful and purposeful life. It directs attention toward health, moral conduct and self discipline. Learning about the Eight-Limbed Path was one of the most meaningful parts of my teacher training and has since shaped many areas of my life, and for that reason I will devote specialized time to the subject soon.
500 CE- 1900 CE Many styles of yoga emerge during this time based upon the writings of the Yoga Sutras and the Eight-Limbed path. Several schools of yoga begin to form, and some basic physical poses become established.
1900 CE to present Various yogic masters came to the Western World during this time and began teaching yoga to a new audience. In fact, for those of you who are local, the first known incidence of yoga being brought to the Western world is in our very own Chicago at the 1893 World's Fair. Swami Vivekananda came to the World's Fair, made a short speech against violence, and brought the house down. This site of this brief but monumental speech is now some art museum on Michigan Avenue. Seriously. Although he never really mentioned yoga specifically, he is the guy credited with bringing yoga to the Western world. Crazy, eh? The very appearance of this same young monk at the interfaith conference in the days that followed the World's Fair in Chicago is credited with opening the minds of the Western World to yoga and an interfaith dialogue.
And the best part about all this is, folks, is that the future of yoga unfolds every day. Simply by reading and practicing and experiencing the undeniable benefits of the mind-body connection inspired by yoga means that you are part of the future of this ancient practice.
What better reason to do Downward Dog when you wake up?
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