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Yoga is a
spiritual practice that was developed in India about 5,000 years ago. In
ancient times, the desire for greater personal freedom, health, long life,
and heightened self-understanding gave birth to this system of physical
and mental exercise which has since spread throughout the world. The early
writings on yoga were inscribed on the fragile palm leaves that can be
easily damaged, destroyed or lost. The Yoga also finds its place in the
scriptures of the Vedas and Upanishads. The ancient yogis or saints
originally performed the India's ancient Vedic religion, which emphasized
mainly on rituals. But as the time approaches, these yogis want a direct
spiritual experience and not symbolic ritual. |
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So
they developed yoga. Taking into account the interrelationship between
body and mind, the yogis formulated a unique method for maintaining this
balance. This method combines all the movements with various breathing and
meditation techniques that ensure peace of mind and physical health.
Yoga and Ayurveda Tour
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According
to the yogis, true happiness, liberation and enlightenment comes
from union of the divine consciousness known as Brahman with the
self. Lord Shiva who is also called yogpurush is believed to be the
first master of Yoga and nature cure. The history of Yoga can be
divided into four main periods which are the pre-classical period,
classical period, post-classical period and modern period.
During the pre-classical period, the Yoga was developed by the
Indus-Sarasvati civilization in the northern India. The word
"Yoga" was mentioned first of all in the Rig Veda, the
oldest sacred texts. |
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Yoga
was slowly refined and developed by Vedic priests, who documented
their practices and beliefs in the Upanishadas. One of the most
famous scriptures is the Bhagavad Gita which was composed around 500
B.C. The Upanishads took the idea of ritual sacrifice from the Vedas
and modified it. The Vedic priests mainly believe in teaching the
sacrifice of the ego through self-knowledge, action (karma yoga) and
wisdom (jnana yoga). |
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During
the classical period, the first systematic presentation of yoga was made
in the Patanjali's yoga sutras. These yoga sutras were written in the
second century and describes the path of Raja Yoga, which is known as
"classical yoga". Patanjali is often considered as the father of
yoga and his yoga-sutras still strongly influence all styles of modern
yoga. In Patanjali, the art of yoga is divided into an "eight limbed
path" that contain the steps to obtain the enlightenment.
During
the post-classical period, the teachers of yoga created a system of
practices that was designed to rejuvenate the body and life. They rejected
the teachings of the ancient Vedas and developed the Tantra Yoga, with
various techniques to cleanse the body and mind. Thus, these body centered
practices further led to the creation of Hatha Yoga.
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During
the period 1800 and 1900, the teachers of yoga started travelling to
the west, to attract the followers. In the 1920, Hatha Yoga was
strongly promoted in India by Mr. T. Krishnamacharya. Shri
Krishnamacharya traveled through India and give demonstration of
various yoga postures and opened the first Hatha Yoga school. B.K.S.
Iyengar, T.K.V. Desikachar and Pattabhi Jois were the three students
of Shri Krishnamacharya who continued his legacy and increase the
popularity of Hatha Yoga. |
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The
importation of yoga in the west still continued until Indra Devi opened
her yoga studio in Hollywood in 1947. Since then, various other western
and Indian teachers became the pioneers who popularized the Hatha Yoga and
gain millions of followers. Now the Hatha Yoga has various different
schools or styles, which emphasize the various aspects of the practice. |
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