This article describes the history, benefits, and basics of yoga. Yoga is a system of physical and mental practices that originated in South Asia, can be practiced by everyone, and has a meditative and spiritual core. The origins of yoga are hard to define, with anywhere between 5000 and 300 years being proclaimed as its origin. This disparity is caused by a difference in definition of what is yoga and the continuity of practices which constitute various schools of yoga. As a teacher, my inspiration and understanding of yoga draws on the Yoga Sutras, a 2,000-year old text written by the Indian sage Patanjali. The sutras provide guidance on how to reach spiritual levels and foster well-being. It is a guidebook that can be used to control emotions, set intentions and gain clarity. It's simple and concise wisdom makes it thought provocative and makes it relevant for our day to day lives. Patanjali lived in India during the Classical period of Indian philosophy and is considered a parent of yoga. His teachings have spread throughout the world over centuries, inspiring people from all religious beliefs to practice physical exercise and honour ancient Indian traditions and sciences.
Yoga more broadly, is believed to have began in India over 5,000 years ago as a spiritual practice, but today it has become a popular exercise program. Many scholars we challenge the claim that yoga is 5,000 years old on different grounds. Some will claim the ancient yoga is completely different to modern day yoga, others will claim there is inadequate evidence of ancient yoga. Most agree that Yoga can be practiced both on and off the mat as a form of meditation and way of life. Its purpose is to promote improved body and mind control as well as enhance overall wellbeing. The physical benefits of yoga are numerous. It helps to strengthen the muscles, joints and ligaments, increase flexibility and balance and improve posture. Additionally, it can help manage stress better by calming the mind and body through relaxation techniques such as deep breathing which can benefit our nervous system within seconds. Despite the controversy over yoga's origins, it seems rationale to think the benefits of yoga will have been a imperative for all humans for thousands of years - whatever name they gave to their practices.
Yoga in the western world has become primarily concerned with the form of exercise that uses poses, breathing techniques and some meditation. Practicing this modern postural yoga can help lethargy, poor health indicators, boost fewer negative feelings and increase mental alertness. Classes are available in different forms to suit all levels of expertise, from beginners to advanced practitioners. Through regular practice, the body will receive an energy boost as well as improved posture, balance and flexibility.
Students can choose from many different schools of yoga, such as Asthanga, Iyengar or Yin. Each having been passed down through various lengths of the time by various schools of thought and practitioners, and shaped by the cultures which have adopted, rejected, bought and sold them. Different styles incorporate various forms of postures, breathing techniques and meditation into there system. The modern history of these yoga schools, involve commodification and cultural misappropriation, which often divides opinion and raises ethical questions.
Yoga can be made accessible to everyone, regardless of age or physical abilities and can be practiced in many different ways. It is up to a teacher to be honest about their ability to modify classes for their students' needs. A typical yoga class lasts about an hour and consists of poses, or asanas, as well as breathing techniques and meditation. It is the responsibility of the teacher to make all these elements of a yoga class accessible for their students or, at very least, to keep them safe.
The yoga which you will experience in your local studio or community centre is likely to be removed from the ancient system of physical and mental practices that originated in South Asia, most likely in the Indus Valley Civilization. It is believed that here, Vedic priests developed ascetic yoga practices to help them prepare for animal sacrifice and other rituals - (none of which you will ever find in your local studio!) Cited Sources
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