A brief history of the origins of yoga

1. By Tiana Harris
THE HISTORY OF YOGA

2. • Yoga has existed for over 5,ooo
years
• The teachings were passed down
through word of mouth and
ancient markings
• It has gone through 4 main
periods each experiencing
Innovation, Practice, and
Development
BACKGROUND INFO

3. • Began in Northern India by the
Indus-Sarasvati civilization
• The word Yoga comes from the
Rig Veda, a collection of sacred
texts
• Development of the practice was
continued by the Brahmans and
Rishis
• The documented their practices
and beliefs in the Upanishads, a
book containing more than 200
scriptures
PRE-CLASSICAL YOGA

4. • Though the most renowned
Yogic scripture was written in 500
B.C.E.
• This scripture is known as the
Bhagavad-Gîtâ
• The Upanishads created
internalized sacrifice of ego with
the practice of self knowledge,
Karma Yoga (action), and Jnana
Yoga (wisdom)
PRE-CLASSICAL YOGA

5. • This period is define as Patanjali’s
Yoga-Sûtras, when yoga became a
systematic practice
• Before this time many of the
beliefs contradicted each other
but now organization was
introduced
• Yoga was organized into an
“eight limbed path” to
enlightenment
• Patanjali is considered the father
of yoga
CLASSICAL YOGA

6. • Yoga became a practice for
prolonging life and rejuvenating
the body
• The ancient teachings of the
Vedas were rejected and instead
the physical body was used to
achieve enlightenment
• This led to the yoga we think of
today: Hatha Yoga
• A combination of physical-
spiritul connection and body
centered practice
POST- CLASSICAL YOGA

7. • In the 1800s and 1900s yoga
began its travel west
• In 1893 at the Parliament of
Religions in Chicago the audience
was wowed with lectures about
yoga from Swami Vivekananda
• Hatha Yoga was strongly
promoted in India in the 1920s
and 30s
• In 1924 the first Hatha Yoga
school was opened by
Krishnamacharya
MODERN YOGA

8. • In 1936 the Divine Life Society
was formed on the banks of the
Ganges River by Sivananda
• Sivananda became a prolific
author and wrote over 200 books
about yoga
• He created nine ashrams spiritual
hermitage and many yoga centers
around the world
• Indra Devi was the first person to
open a yoga studio in Hollywood
in 1947

9. Personally I love Yoga. I practice every day for at least a half hour. I really
enjoyed getting to know the history behind how it all started. Finally getting to
know the names of the creators has been a lot of fun, although hard to
pronounce. Learning this has deepened my love and respect for the practice
and the culture it has come from.
MY THOUGHTS

10. http://www.yogabasics.com/learn/history-of-yoga/
YOGA POSES AND WORK CITED