Origins of Yoga: Exploring the History and Postural Practices"
Yoga made its appearance in the Veda in the - 1500 / 1800 BCE. However, Yoga at that time was neither related to posture as we know it now nor a meditative practice. The aim of Yoga was a method to get free from the life cycle renewal (Samsara) and so to get free from suffering.
The Asanas that we translate today, "posture" originally meant "the action to sit". Thus, the synonym "seated posture" was abbreviated by "posture".
Behind the word Asanas, there is the notion of immobility (in contradiction to movement). The Yogis progress in the meditative state through immobility to get free from Samsara.
We need to wait until the second millennium to develop 2 non meditative postures (Kukkutasana and Mayurasana). Then, thanks to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, 24 non meditative postures with therapeutic and spiritual virtues were developed. However, these postures are still a body preparation to hold a long seated meditation posture.
The Yoga postures were developed thanks to exchanges and back and forth of yoga ideas between the Orient and the West. It became popular at the end of the XIX century, notably with its exportation to the West by Swami Vivekananda (focused of pranayama and meditation). Then by Sri. T. Krishnamacharya ("the father of Modern Yoga"). His students will develop, at a larger stage, the modern yoga that we practice today.
P. Jois - The Ashtanga Yoga
B.K.S. Iyengar - A Therapeutic Yoga
Indra Devi - will feminize Yoga.
The contemporary Yoga is born, which will lead to flow yoga, vinyasa Vinyasa Yoga or Power Yoga.
The propulsion of Yoga in Western society can be explained by 2 factors :
Gymnastics, popular in the 80s and 90sFamous personalities like C. Ali, G. Stebbins or M. Bagot use Asanas to reach higher consciousness. The "harmonious movement" is born.
The revolution of society (boom of communication, boom of consumerist society) and the standardization of the bodies.
Yoga keeps inflicting itself on the world in full transformation. This is the feminization and standardization of Yoga. Postural practice becomes the central figure of the practice.
However, in the end, it doesn't matter what the goal of yoga is or which part of yoga is emphasized in our society ! Nowadays, the Yoga practice is diversified, and that's all that matters.
Having the chance to encounter so many yoga practices means that more and more people can find their own way of practicing that fits them !
Yoga softens the body, BUT it also softens the mind AND softens our way of seeing things.
The more people who start their Yoga journey, the more peaceful and caring the world will be.
To go further :
The History of Yoga and How Yoga Lineage Impacts Your Practice Today: This resource explores the origins and evolution of yoga, emphasizing its spiritual and philosophical roots.
The Government of India - About the history of Yoga.
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