We have always known yoga as a spiritual discipline that teaches its practitioners to find harmony and balance both in mind and body. It’s an incredible lifestyle that allows people to grow deeper into themselves and be one with nature. But, didn’t you ever wonder if there was more to yoga than what we already know?
Let’s take a closer look at its origin and how yoga developed from its oldest form.
Fact 1: The Etymology of “Yoga”
From studying as to where the word yoga has originated, we can find traces on how it came about as a spiritual and philosophical practice from the earliest time it was discovered.
- The term yoga originally came from the Sanskrit root word yuj that means “to attach, join, harness, yoke”, which the yoga sutras simply refer to as “union.”
- Yoga was also born into a whole new meaning through the combination of two roots: yujir yoga, which means “to yoke” or yuj samādhau, which means “to concentrate.”
- The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali refer to yoga as having the primary purpose of “uniting” the human spirit with the Divine spirit.
Fact 2: The Origin of Yoga
Yoga originated in ancient India, and it’s one of the six Āstika schools of Hindu philosophical traditions. It is not a religion, but a part of a very old tradition from pre-Vedic Indian, which is theorized as a part of the Indus valley civilization around 3000 BCE. That’s how old yoga can ever be traced back.
Fact 3: The Oldest Form of Yoga
Yoga’s oldest form can be tracked from its origin, the pre-Vedic era.
Vedic Yoga experts claim that this traditional practice helps people find wisdom through the harmony of inner power or energy. There are three types of Vedic Yoga: Mantra, Prana, and Dhyana Yoga.
Mantra Yoga focuses on a mantric insight to the highest intelligence, Prana Yoga focuses on inner energy, and Dhyana Yoga focuses on developing wisdom.
Fact 4: The Development of Yoga
In India, Yoga is a meditative practice in a person’s spiritual core. However, since yoga was introduced to Western civilization by Swami Vivekananda in the late 19th and early 20th century, it has eventually developed into a fitness training that involves improvement in body posture, stress reliever, and a holistic relaxation technique.
Fact 5: Modern Yoga
Over time, the idea of yoga has evolved. Modern yoga is a product of years of mixed associations from the original meaning and practices with the present customs.
What’s important is that despite the evolution and development of yoga, modern practices still resonate with its traditional purpose. Our latest concept of yoga always seeks to combine the health and wellness of the mind and the body, to achieve the perfect harmony.
The Goal of Yoga: Yesterday and Today
The ultimate goal of yoga hasn’t changed since the discovery of its oldest form, and that is to free the self in a holistic sense.
As meditation strengthens the mind, the physical exertion strengthens the body as well. Yoga helps us complete our journey to attain inner peace and strength, which means the discipline remains utterly liberating.
Are you ready to continue your journey? Visit Kundalini Yoga From Home today and learn how you can unleash the best version of yourself.