A Little Yoga History

It is estimated that yoga originated 5,000 years ago in India. The word "yoga" is Sanskrit for "union."

Through excavations in the 1920s, the earliest evidence of yoga was discovered. These archaeological treasures revealed signs of an ancient civilization, which flourished in India as early as 3,000 BC, perhaps even earlier. Among the finds were stone seals depicting godlike figures in yogic postures, one of which has been identified as the Hindu god, Shiva, the mythical founder of yoga.

However, yoga techniques existed long before the arrival of Aryan tribes whose domination shaped the development of Hinduism. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, yoga masters began to migrate to the west, attracting attention and followers. The importation of yoga to the west still gradually continued at a trickle until Indra Devi opened her yoga studio in Hollywood in 1947. Since then, many more western and Indian teachers have become pioneers, popularizing hatha yoga, one of the many styles of yoga, and gaining millions of followers.

Hatha Yoga now has many different schools, all emphasizing the many different aspects of the practice.

Most Popular Styles of Yoga

There are many different styles of yoga, but most are rooted in hatha yoga, yoga's physical discipline that concentrates on developing control of the body through asanas or poses.

In Sanskrit, "ha" symbolizes the sun and "tha" symbolizes the moon. "Hatha" represents the duality in life – yin and yang, masculine and feminine, darkness and light. It leads the way to balancing these opposing forces. It is the yoga of physical well-being.

1. Ashtanga

   For those seeking a serious workout, ashtanga offers a fast-paced series of sequential poses. Participants transition from one pose to another in a continuous rhythm and link their movements with their breathing.

2. Anusara

   Anusara (pronounced ah-new-SAR-ah), or "following your heart," has been deemed as the heart-oriented style of yoga, combining the celebration of the heart, universal principles of alignment, and balanced energetic action in the performance of asana. In this discipline of yoga, each student's abilities and limitations are deeply respected and honored.

3. Ananda

   The emphasis of this yoga style is meditation. This gentle yoga combines breath awareness, affirmations, and yoga postures to transition from body awareness through energy awareness to silent, inner awareness. The use of affirmations while in the asanas is a distinct feature of ananda yoga.

4. Bikram

   Bikram, a series of 26 anandas, is practiced in elevated room temperatures of up to 100 degrees; so profuse sweating is a sure outcome. It is designed to warm and stretch muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

5. Integral

   Integral distributes its emphasis equally between breathing control, meditation, and asanas. Its purpose is therapeutic and is used in such cases as in those afflicted by heart disease.

6. Iyengar

   This style of yoga is most notable for its precise alignment of posture and great attention to detail. The yoga poses are held longer and repeated multiple times.

7. Kali Ray Triyoga

   This style of yoga combines posture, breathing, and focusing together to create dynamic and intuitive flows. The TriYoga exercises combine flowing and sustained postures preceding a spinal wavelike movement, economy of motion, and synchronized breath and mudra. The flows are arranged by level and can be as gentle or as challenging as desired. Students may graduate from basic to more advanced flows as they increase their flexibility, strength, endurance and knowledge of the flows.

8. Kripalu

   Kripalu yoga, or "the yoga of consciousness," places great emphasis on proper breathing, alignment, coordination of breathing and body movement, and honoring the "wisdom of the body." You work according to your own individual strength and flexibility.

9. Kundalini

   This style of yoga concentrates on the manipulated release of the Kundalini or "serpent energy," found at the base of the spine. It involves classic poses, chanting, and the coordination of breathing, movement, and meditation with its focal point being chanting and breathing.

10. Sivananda

    Sivananda focuses on breathing control, classic poses, and relaxation. It also emphasizes diet, positive thinking, and meditation.

11. Svaroopa

    This style of yoga enlightens students on significantly different methods of performing poses, placing its emphasis on the opening of the spine and initiating movement at the tailbone and progressing through each spinal area. Every pose incorporates asanas, anatomy and yoga philosophy. Not yoga for athletic purposes, this is a consciousness yoga that promotes healing and transformation.

12. Viniyoga

    This yoga is designed with individuality in mind. Viniyoga utilizes modified poses that are designed to meet the specific needs of an individual and to enhance healing, flexibility, and the strengthening of joints. Poses also intend to invoke a feeling of well-being and strength. Emphasis of this yoga is on coordinating breathing and movement.

13. Jivamukti

    This style of yoga is rigorous in both physical and intellectual activity. It promotes the educational aspect of the practice and extends access to where these ideas derived. Each class centers on a theme, which is upheld by Sanskrit chanting, readings, spoken word, asana sequencing, and breathing practices. It has been said that many Jivamukti students have a richer knowledge of yoga philosophy than many yoga teachers do.

Through the wealth of information we just digested, we can conclude that yoga is not simply a form of exercise to aid in enabling you to slide into that skinny pair of jeans. But in fact, it seems to be much more, a well-rounded art of toning and healing the body and soul. It is no wonder that its popularity in the United States has risen so dramatically with over 16.5 million Americans practicing yoga these days. Seems quite logical to me.