History Of Yoga
Before you incorporate yoga into your lifestyle, you should study its origins. The history of yoga goes back to India. It is estimated that it has been practiced in India for over 5,000 years. It is believed to have been inspired by the contemplation of the cat, as it stretched. After a good stretch and arch, the cat’s energy and alertness were increased, thus this knowledge was deemed to be beneficial to humans. Even to current day, some yoga positions are still named after the creatures they were adapted from: the tortoise, the cobra and the butterfly, just to name a few.
A more accurate description of yoga is that it is one of the six systems of Indian philosophy. The history of yoga states that yoga was communicated orally for many generations, like other cultures and spiritual practices around the globe. Its history became more specific when the two yoga texts were written down.
According to the history of yoga, the first yoga system is the “Yoga Sutras of Pantajali”, dating back to 200 to 400 BC. It was written in the ancient language of Sanskrit. The second text, “The Bhagarad Gita”, which is part of the Mahabbarata epic, dates closer to 500 BC. It praises yoga and illustrates the relationship between mortals and supreme beings.
As per Pantajali, yoga helps one suspend the mind’s waves and gives the ability to pay attention to life. This means experiencing what you are actually living, rather than letting life pass you by. Therefore, this text forms the basis of yoga philosophy as practiced in our time.