History of Yoga

Question 1

Ages of yoga tradition

Answer 1

• Vedic Age
• Upanishads
• Epic Stories
• Classical
• Tantrik Age
• Hatha Yoga
• Modern

Question 2

Vedic age (6000-1900 BCE)

Answer 2

Indus valley civilization in northern India and Pakistan
First hindu texts were called Vedas, consisting of hymns and rituals in Sanskrit language
Rituals involving fire and sacrifice and performed by priests were an important part of vedic culture

Question 3

Upanishads (1500-1000 BCE)

Answer 3

As a rebellion to the authority of the vedas (and the priests), ascetics began retreating to forests to practice meditation and ascetic practices to escape the trap of karma
The upanishads are ecstatic texts of insight, channeled from deep states of meditation

Question 4

The epic stories (1000-100 BCE)

Answer 4

Ramayana and Mahabharata, the “Bibles” of hinduism
One part of Mahabharata is called Bhagavad-Gita
Types of yoga;
Jnana yoga=yoga of knowledge
Karma yoga=yoga of action
Bhakti yoga=yoga of devotion

Key ideas of the epic stories age:
* Dharma = life’s purpose, worldly duty
* Bhagavad Gita = Lord’s Song
* You don’t need to leave society to be a good yogi (like the ascetics).
* Yoga is now open to everyone to practice, including women and the poor.
* You can now practice yoga through your actions (karma yoga) and through love/devotion (bhakti yoga).

Question 5

The classical Age (100BCE-500 CE)

Answer 5

• The Yoga Sutra are a series of short sayings (sutra) relaying yogic wisdom.
• Meditation is primary tool for insight.
• Yoga is defined as “the restraint of the fluctuations of the mind.”
• Includes the 8-fold path of ashtanga yoga.
  Patanjali’s yoga is dualist (the material world and the divine world are forever separate).
• Prakriti = material world, “mother nature”
• Purusha = spiritual world, soul

Question 6

Tantric age (500-1300 CE)

Answer 6

Key ideas:
* Non-dualist philosophy: “world-loving”
* Opened the doors to new tools for meditation, including subtle body systems
* Revitalized goddess worship
* Body can now be a tool for liberation

Question 7

Hatha yoga (1300-1700 CE)

Answer 7

Practices for body as a vehicle of enlightment
* Kriya (cleansing techniques)
* Asana (postures)
* Pranayama (breath control)
* Mudra
* Bandha
* Meditation using the subtle body
* One of the key texts: Hatha Yoga Pradipika

Question 8

Modern yoga (1700-present day)

Answer 8

1893: First Parliament of World Religions in Chicago, attended by Swami Vivekananda, who inspired others about Vedanta
1888: Krishnamacharya, the teacher of BKS Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois,and Desikachar, born
1960’s: growing cultural and spiritual discontent in North America ledtravelers to seek philosophical insight in Asia
1960’s-1990’s: the teachings of several influential yoga teachers take hold in North America, namely Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois, Desikachar, and Indra Devi.