It’s 21st June the International Yoga day . so first let’s understand the word Yoga a bit…..
The word ‘Yoga’ is derived from Sanskrit word ‘Yuj’ which mean to unite . it could also be referred too the unison of soul and body…………
Yoga’s history can be traced back to the Vedic period and is assumed to be 5,000 to 10,000 years old has many places of obscurity and uncertainty due to its oral transmission of sacred texts and the secretive nature of its teachings. The early writings on yoga were transcribed on fragile palm leaves that were easily damaged, destroyed or lost….
Yoga word was first used in the ‘Rig Veda’. Even the most renowned of the Yogic scriptures is the Bhagavad-Gîtâ, composed around 500 B.C.E. The Upanishads took the idea of ritual sacrifice from the Vedas and internalized it, teaching the sacrifice of the ego through self-knowledge, action (karma yoga) and wisdom (jnana yoga).
It is divided into four main types based on it’s development
Pre classical Yoga- Originated in Indus-Sarasvati civilization in Northern India . Ancient yogis believed that we only have a limited number of breaths in each life. Hence, it made sense to stretch our life out a bit longer by taking slow and deep breaths.
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• Classical Yoga- is a combination of many beliefs and ideas. It may be called the first systematic presentation of yoga according to Patanjali.
• There are 84 classic Yoga Asanas, the Asana being one of the 8 limbs of Yoga.
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• Post-Classical Yoga
Patanjali, yoga masters(gurus) created a system of practices designed to rejuvenate the body and prolong life. They rejected the teachings of the ancient Vedas . They developed Tantra Yoga, with radical techniques to cleanse the body and mind to break the knots that bind us to our physical existence also called Hatha Yoga.
• Modern Period Yoga -,when yoga masters began to travel to the West, attracting attention and followers then in the late 1800s and early 1900s at the 1893 Parliament of Religions in Chicago, when Swami Vivekananda wowed the attendees with his lectures on yoga and the universality of the world’s religions Yoga was strongly promoted in India with the work of
• T. Krishnamacharya,
• Swami Sivananda
• and other yogis practicing Hatha Yoga.
• Krishnamacharya opened the first Hatha Yoga school in Mysore in 1924
• 1936 Sivananda founded the Divine Life Society on the banks of the holy Ganges River.
• Krishnamacharya ‘s three students those who increased the popularity of Hatha Yoga are B.K.S. Iyengar, T.K.V. Desikachar and Pattabhi Jois.
• Sivananda was a prolific author, writing over 200 books on yoga, and established nine ashrams and numerous yoga centers located around the world.
• The importation of yoga to the West still 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 and gaining millions of followers. Hatha Yoga now has many different schools or styles, all emphasizing the many different aspects of the practice
These were the first few people who made the Yoga popular………
Well according to Hindu mythology, Shiva is considered the Supreme Lord of Yoga.
And Research has suggested that yoga improves social and occupational functioning in schizophrenic patients.
There have been several steps taken to popularize Yoga and its importance. Yoga is said to be “Rognashk” meaning ‘Medicinal’.
Practising Yoga can give us an healthy and disease free lifestyle ………..
Well Yoga has a vast meaning and properties and practice and Yoga mudra’s or Yoga gestures like :-
• Gyan Mudra
• Vayu Mudra
• Prithvi Mudra
• Shunya Mudra
• Surya Mudra
• Prana Mudra
And if we discuss all it would take a long time but here was a little information for you my friends……………
And a little Homework for you……
1. Identify this picture
http://www.thebetterindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Maharshi-Patanjali-India-Stamp-Block-of-4.jpg
2. When was first International Yoga Day celebrated?
3. Some yoga benefits and harms?
Ok I will give one like you can give you injuries if not practiced well and benefits are numerous can you give some friends……
4. What are karma,bhakti and jana yoga?
5. Is meditation part of Yoga?
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Hope you liked it and will practice Yoga for it’s health benifits without hurting yourself and do answer let’s check whether you know about it or not……
My references were Wikipedia and CBSE course Physical Edu. Text books
Tc. Enjoy and ignore typos and grammatical mistakes in the article…….