Yoga: Origin, Influences and Practice in modern times!
In Vedic Sanskrit, yoga (from the root yuj) means "to add", "to join", "to unite", or "to attach".
History
Yoga is more than mastering postures and increasing your flexibility and strength. The traditional purpose of Yoga, however, has always been to bring about a profound transformation in the person through the transcendence of the ego.
In Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism the word yoga means "spiritual discipline". Though people often associate yoga with the postures and stances that make up the physical activity of the exercise, it is actually only the most superficial aspect of this profound science of unfolding the infinite potentials of the human mind and soul. Yoga is a 5000 year old Indian body of knowledge, and it is something that has evolved and changed over time. Different factions of yoga have developed since its conception.
It is known that yoga originated from the East. The earliest signs of yoga appear in ancient Shamanism. Evidence of yoga postures were found on artefacts dating back to 3000 B.C. Evidence of yoga were also found in the oldest existing text, the “Rig Veda”.
Yoga originally focused on acting as a religious mediator. Its focus later changed to the self, as ‘Self Enlightenment’ became the ultimate goal. It was not until the sixth century B.C. that the postures and meditation became a critical element. They were implemented by Buddhist teachings.
Modern Yoga
Modern yoga is based on five basic principles that were created by Swami Sivananda.
Proper relaxation
Proper exercise
Proper breathing
Proper diet
Positive thinking and meditation