The document provides an overview of the origins and history of yoga. It discusses how yoga originated in ancient Hindu scriptures like the Upanishads to describe a path to liberation. The document outlines the eight limbs of yoga according to Patanjali and describes various yoga practices like hatha yoga, tantra yoga, bhakti yoga, and others. It also traces the development of popular modern hatha yoga styles and provides context on the evolution of different asanas. The subtle body, chakras, pranayama, bandhas, and kundalini energy are examined in relation to tantric yoga and the goal of samadhi.

1. Yoga योग
David KONG - Geneva - May 2019

2. Origins
According to the Upanishads 800 - 500 BC, Universe was formed
by Brahmâ, the Absolute Principle on a precarious support.
The Sky, Sun, Earth, Water maintained their cohesion through
Dharma, a force structuring the whole assemble with both Spirit
(purusha) and Matter (prakriti).
The Upanishads reveal the path of yoga:
"Successive mutations till the essence, Brahman"

3. Vishnu is in charge of its conservation
Shiva of its dissolution…
Each deity has a feminine side ♀ : Sarasvatî for
Brahmâ for the creative intelligence
Lakshmî for Vishnu for the prosperity
Parvatî for Shiva as the mountain goddess

5. Each individual is a universe with a cosmic
organization and can rise from the ignorance (tama) to
the worldly energy (raja) and finally reach the
conformity to the sky (sattva)
Nature is mâyâ (illusion), beauty is fragile, the
essence is eternal but existence is mortal and painful
(dukham)
Even salvation is transitory as the "paradise" will
eventually resorb (Patanjali, Yoga Sûtra, 400 AD)

6. According to the Bhagavad-Gîtâ (200 BC), each individual possesses a "soul" (âtman),
therefore the potential knowledge to liberation (moksha)
Yoga means to harness (yam=to tame) the body and then the spirit through 8 steps (Patanjali,
Yoga Sûtra, 400 AD):
1. Yama
2. Niyama
Code of conduct
related to the
senses and the
perception
(indriya)
3. Asana
4. Pranayama
Postures and
breathing relating
to the mind, the
spirit (manas)
5. Pratyahara
6. Dharana
Connecting the mind to the
body with one's
intelligence (buddhi)
7.Dhyana
8. Samadhi
Complete mastering over the
respiratory and muscular system,
senses are sharpened, physical
and mental desires dominated,
past impressions (vâsânâ) have
vanished
The metaphor of the chariot
"The vehicule being our body; the horses our organs of perception;
the reins our brain; the coachman our intelligence; the passenger
our soul; the ride our universe. Once the chariot has stopped, the
soul can get off and enjoy the universe…"

7. The five Yamas (restrainments):
· Non-violence
· Non-lying
· Non-stealing
· Non-lusting
· Non-greeding
The five Niyamas (observances):
· Cleanliness
· Serenity
· Self-Discipline
· The study of Scriptures
· Observance of vows
Source:
Patanjali, Yoga Sutra, 2.32, 400CE

8. According to Patanjali, Asanas are meant to be seated in a "steady
and comfortable" posture, so any poses suits a yoga practice:
1. Svastika (auspicious)
2. Padma (lotus)
3. Siddha (the Perfect)
So where do the other Asanas come from?
1
2 3

9. Âsana आसन
The asanas have been created at different times, a few being ancient,
some being medieval, and a growing number recent
The Hátha Yoga Pradīpikā (15th c.) and the Shiva Samhita (13-15th c.)
mention 84 asanas; the Gheranda Samhita (17th c.) 32 Asanas
"Light on Yoga", 1966, by BKS Iyengar, lists about 200
In 1984, Dharma Mittra (Brazil) compiled a list of about 1,300 asanas
In the 20th century, Indian nationalism favoured physical culture in response to colonialism, pioneers such
as Yogendra, Kuvalayananda, and Krishnamacharya taught a new system of asanas, incorporating Western
systems of exercise as well as traditional hatha yoga (Singleton, 2010)
Among Krishnamacharya's pupils were influential Indian yoga teachers including Pattabhi Jois, founder of
Ashtanga vinyasa yoga, and B.K.S. Iyengar
By unknown artist, Mahamandir
temple, Jodhpur, India, c. 1810

10. Pranayama
1. Breath retention techniques
(Kumbhaka)
2. Various body locks
(Bandha)
3. Ujjayi breath ("Victorious
Breath")
4. Bhastrika ("bellows breath")
5. Kapalabhati ("skull shining
breath")
Pratyahara of five kinds:
1. The forceful withdrawal of
organs of perception from sensual
pleasures
2. Assuming all objects as Atman
3. Giving up the activities of daily
routines
4. Keeping oneself away from all
the sensual pleasures
Dharanas:
To acknowledge that thoughts are
shaped by desires and intention and to
stabilise the mind in Atman.
ThThe mind thinks about one object
or point and avoids other thoughts
(yantra).
Dhyana:
The meditation upon Atman that is
omnipresent.
The consciousness of the act of meditation
disappears, only the consciousness of
being/existing and the object of concentration
Samadhi is the merger of Jivatman
(limitless conscious existence) and
Paratman (Supreme Self)
It is in the form of never-ending Bliss.
The nature the Pure Consciousness.

11. Karma Yoga
The path of unselfish action
To accomplish one's duties
according to the Dharma
Kriya yoga
In tantric texts, how to activate
chakra and energy centers in the
body
Bhakti yoga
How to focus on loving
devotion towards a
personal god
Jñāna /Nyâna/ yoga
The path of knowledge
How to reach insights on the
nature of his own Self with
questions such as "who am I,
what am I"
Rāja yoga
(Swami Vivekananda, 1863-1902)
The goal of yoga and a method of
attaining it
↓
Hatha Yoga
"Force" focuses on asanas
↓
Tantra Yoga
leads through deities, rituals and
practices

12. Samadhi समाधि
The mind is disconnected from the body and unifies to the supreme Self
(paratman), as the drop of water joins the ocean.
The yogi melts into the object of meditation in an enstasis
(contemplation of one's own self)
What makes this transformation possible?
Which power instigates this transformation?
The answer is found in the Upanishads and Tantrism...

13. TANTRISM तन्त्र
According to religious interpretations, a Goddess conceived the
Universe, the magic (mâyâ) of the cosmos is therefore an earthly
manifestation of the her power (shaktism).
A synthesis of theory and practice defining Dharma (1000 AD),
where essence (Atmân) and existence (Kundalini) coexist.
In yoga, one harnesses the Kundalini (fire or
snake) till it unifies with the Âtman. Tantra is
a spiritual path (sâdhana) where one's nature
is an obstacle and an ally to the Absolute
(image: lingam with yoni)

14. The Subtle Body (Sukshma Sharira) perfect and
eternal, it contains all vital functions, keeps the
physical body alive, making Samadhi possible
Legs - Earth - Lam
Thigh - Water - Vam
Navel - Fire - Ram
Throat - Air - Yam
Forehead - Ether - Ham
Covered by 350M energy channels (nâdîs)
The sushumnâ carries the energy of fire via idâ
(left) and pingalâ (right)
Chakras are the epicentres and origins of this
energy flow
All types of yoga are aiming at Samadhi, but
using different methods...Source:
Indian School

15. “The Tantric sages tell us that our in-
breath and out-breath actually mirror the
divine creative gesture. With the
inhalation, we draw into our own center,
our own being. With the exhalation, we
expand outward into the world.”
Source:
Sally Kempton, "Awakening Shakti: The Transformative
Power of the Goddesses of Yoga", 2013
CNN, Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, India,
10/02/2013

16. Hatha Yoga
Krishnamacharya (1888-1989) contributed to the revival of hatha yoga based on physical culture
Ashtanga Yoga “eight limbs”
Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in 1948
Consists of 6 series of Sun salutations and 41 asanas
Iyengar Yoga, since 1966, alignment using breath control and props
Kundalini Yoga, yogi Bhajan, 1968, for devotion, power, and mental control
Bikram Yoga, in the 1970s, 26 postures and two breathing exercises.
Yin Yoga, in the 70s, it focuses on lengthening the connective tissues within the body
Aerial Yoga, since 2014, combines traditional yoga poses and dance with the use of a swing
Stand Up Paddle Yoga, since 2013, combines traditional yoga poses with surfing
Acro Yoga, since 1989, combines yoga, acrobatics and Thai massage
Vinyasa Yoga
Power Yoga 1990s
means linking breath with movement
Restorative Yoga
By 2007, means to allow the
body to slow down and relax
Partner Yoga uses the partner's
counterbalance and weight in
deepening yoga postures

17. Bibliography
Jones, C.; Ryan, M. (2006). Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Infobase Publishing. pp. 248, 476, 511.
Pechelis, K. (2014), The Embodiment of Bhakti, Oxford University Press, pp. 19-24
Singleton, Mark (2010). Yoga Body : the origins of modern posture practice. Oxford University Press.
Varenne, J. (2019), "Aux sources du yoga : Comprendre son origine, l'Hindouisme", Dauphin, Paris
Zondervan, K., (2010), "Le yoga tantrique", Almora, Paris
Internet sites:
Rai, Susmita, "Yoga – a critical study"
https://satyanveshiblog.wordpress.com/author/satyanveshiblog/ (December 18, 2015)
https://www.classicyoga.co.in/2018/09/shandilya-upanishad/ (May 2019)
https://www.doyouyoga.com
https://www.yogapedia.com
https://www.yogajournal.com
Images:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayurasana#/media/File:Nath_yogi_in_Mayurasana_peacock_pose.jpg
https://onlineprasad.com/products/puja-vishwakarma
http://ayurwiki.org/
https://www.reference.com/world-view/shiva-lingam-yoni-e88507ce0befd5e5
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-subtle-body-and-the-chakras-indian-school.html?product=poster
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/gallery/kumbh-mela-festival/index.html