The history of yoga spans thousands of years, evolving from an ecstatic mystical tradition to a sophisticated spiritual philosophy and, today, a global wellness phenomenon. Its exact origin is difficult to pinpoint due to a lack of historical and archaeological evidence, but descriptions of yogis and yogic-like practices began appearing in Vedic scriptures around 1000 BCE.
Some research suggests yoga may be up to 10,000 years old, with early forms possibly existing in the Indus Valley region around 2500 BCE, though sculptures from this era are speculative as evidence of yoga postures.
1. Early Development / Vedic Period (approx. 1500 BCE – 500 BCE)
Origins: The history of yoga begins around 3000 years ago in the Vedic culture of north-western India (1500 – 500 BCE). The Sanskrit word 'Yoga' is derived from 'Yuj', meaning 'to join' or 'to yoke' or 'to unite', aiming for harmony between mind and body.
Vedas: The oldest of the Vedic scriptures, the Rig Veda, is the first ancient text to mention the word yoga. It also contains the earliest descriptions of long-haired ascetic mystics ("proto-yogis") performing yogic-like practices. In the Rig Veda (circa 15th century BCE), yoga initially meant the yoke placed on a draft animal, expanding metaphorically to refer to a war chariot or "rig". This association with "wartime" contrasted with "peacetime" (ksema). Vedic priests related their practice to the warrior's yoga, describing themselves as "yoking" their minds to poetic inspiration. The Vedas established concepts like karma, samsara, moksha, and introduced deities. They contained Mantra Yoga, Prana Yoga (through Pranayama), and Dhyana Yoga (meditation).
Upanishads: Later philosophical works, the Upanishads (dating from 800 BCE to 500 CE), first expounded ideas forming the core of the yogic worldview. They are concerned with exploring the essence of mystical experience, particularly the unity of the Self (Atman) with the Absolute (Brahman). The earliest Upanishads did not specifically outline a yoga system, but later ones included the first references to a coordinated system of practices.
The Katha Upanishad (5th-3rd century BCE) defines yoga as the steady control of the senses and cessation of mental activity, leading to a supreme state. It compares the relationship between self, body, and intellect to a rider, chariot, and charioteer. It introduced concepts of yogic physiology, identifying the individual self with the universal Person (purusha) or absolute being (brahman), and presented the hierarchy of mind-body constituents that underpin Samkhya philosophy. It also introduced the use of mantras, notably OM.
The Maitrayaniya Upanishad (composed a century later) outlined a sixfold path of yoga: breath control (pranayama), introspective withdrawal of senses (pratyahara), meditation (dhyana), mind concentration (dharana), philosophical inquiry (tarka), and absorption (samadhi).
Influence and Divergence: During this period, yoga evolved from ecstatic mysticism into an organized spiritual path. This development occurred alongside other spiritual paths like Buddhism and Jainism, influencing each other.
2. Classical Yoga (approx. 800 BCE – 500 CE)
Systematization: This period is distinguished by a highly systematized approach to spiritual practice. The essential goal is the progressive interiorization of the mind, withdrawing awareness inward to realize the innermost self (purusha).
Patanjali's Yoga Sutras: The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, written between 200 BCE and 200 CE, is widely considered the first full compilation of formal yoga philosophy and practice. Patanjali is commonly known as the Grandfather of Yoga.
Ashtanga Yoga (Raja Yoga): Patanjali's famous Ashtanga Yoga, or the "yoga of eight limbs," is a comprehensive, integrated system culminating in Samadhi (realization or enlightenment). It is also known as Raja Yoga and remains one of the main paths practiced today.
The Eight Limbs are:
1. Yama (moral behavior/outward attitudes).
2. Niyama (inner attitudes/personal disciplines).
3. Asana (quieting and stabilizing the body in a comfortable posture). Historically, the Yoga Sutras contained
only a few verses on asana, focusing more on higher practices of concentration and meditation.
4. Pranayama (breath exercises to regulate subtle energy and mind).
5. Pratyahara (withdrawal of awareness from senses).
6. Dharana (concentration of mind on a single object).
7. Dhyana (meditation, intense absorption leading to boundless Awareness).
8. Samadhi (culmination of the yogic process, indescribably blissful realization of innermost Self and
primordial ground of Being).
Mind-Body Connection: Classical yoga emphasizes that mind and body can be controlled through yogic practice to experience equanimity. Its philosophy is closely associated with Samkhya philosophy.
3. Post-Classical Period / Medieval Yoga (approx. 500 CE – Late 19th Century)
Diversification: This phase saw the emergence of various yoga forms sharing the same essential goal but diverging in method. This process was influenced by creative spiritual geniuses and India's history of foreign invasions.
Bhagavad Gita: The Bhagavad Gita presents yoga as a less austere and systematized practice, suitable for integration into daily life. It introduced three main paths compatible with worldly activity:
◦ Karma Yoga (yoga of action, selfless service without attachment to results).
◦ Bhakti Yoga (yoga of the heart, love and devotion towards the divine).
◦ Gyana Yoga (Jnana Yoga) (yoga of wisdom or insight, awakening direct insight into reality, linking to early
Upanishads).
Tantra Yoga: A few centuries after Patanjali, yoga masters developed systems to rejuvenate the body for longevity. Tantra Yoga emerged with radical techniques to cleanse body and mind, emphasizing balancing energies (male/female, hot/cold). Tantra is pivotal in the history of yoga, introducing innovations like self-deification as the ultimate goal and detailed visualization of deities. Tantric traditions innovated the subtle body or yogic body concept, identifying the practitioner's body with the universe. This included a hierarchy of inner energy centers like chakras and the kundalini.
Hatha Yoga emerged around 1000 CE, originating among diverse ascetic traditions and gradually becoming central to several Indian religious schools. It is considered a branch of yoga that gave more importance to the physical body, in contrast to earlier classical yoga's meditation focus. The term Hatha literally means "force" in Sanskrit, referring to the forceful practices for attaining liberation. It is also interpreted as "Ha" (sun) and "Tha" (moon), signifying the union of these two energies to balance channels (Pingala and Ida).
◦ Founders & Texts: Matsyendranath is considered one of the first Hatha yogis, receiving teachings from Shiva.
His disciple, Gorakshanath, was a driving force in establishing the discipline in India. They are traditionally
considered the founders of Hatha Yoga and authors of early texts. The earliest mentions of Hatha Yoga
techniques are in Tantric Buddhist texts like the Amrtasiddhi (11th century).
Classical Hatha Yoga Texts:
The Hatha Yoga Pradipika (15th century) by Swami Svatmarama is one of the most influential texts. It outlines a six-limb path (Shatanga Yoga), excluding Yama and Niyama from Patanjali's system. It recommends starting with physical practices to master the mind through the body, making it more accessible. Its practices include Asana, Kumbhaka (breath retention), Mudras, and Nadanusandhana (focusing on internal sound). It describes the yogic body as a pneumatic, hydraulic, and thermodynamic system, with elaborate breath control to refine vital fluids into nectar.
The Gheranda Samhita (late 17th century) and the Shiva Samhita (before 1500 CE) are other important scriptures. The Gheranda Samhita is comprehensive, focusing on Shatkarma (purification techniques). It mentions 32 postures but states there are 84 root asanas. The Shiva Samhita covers five types of prana, meditation, tantra, and mudras, emphasizing accessibility for householders.
Practices of Hatha Yoga: It emphasizes physical practices and mastery of the body to attain liberation. Key
practices include:
▪ Shatkarma (six cleansing techniques: Neti, Dhauti, Nauli, Basti, Kapalabhati, Trataka) to remove toxins and
blockages in prana flow.
▪ Pranayama (breath control for expanding life force).
▪ Asana (postural practice, including non-seated postures to cultivate steadiness, held for a relatively
long time).
▪ Mudras (yogic seals/gestures to manipulate vital energies like Bindu and Kundalini).
▪ Bandhas (psycho-physiological energy release techniques).
▪ Meditation (the final goal, leading to absorption and union with Brahman).
Nath Yogis: The earliest Sanskrit works on Hatha Yoga are attributed to Gorakhnath, the 12th-13th century founder of the Nath Yogis, who aimed for bodily immortality and supernatural powers.
Yoga Upanishads: These 21 medieval texts reinterpret classical Upanishads, incorporating tantric and Nath Yogi traditions, including kundalini, asanas, and internal yogic body geography.
4. Modern Yoga (Late 19th Century – Present)
Arrival in the West: Yoga arrived in the West largely through Swami Vivekananda's lectures at the Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893. However, Indian spirituality had influenced Western thought earlier; Charles Wilkins translated the Bhagavad Gita into English in 1785, influencing Romantic poets and American Transcendentalists. Philosopher Schopenhauer highly praised the Upanishads in the early 19th century.
Yoga Revival in India:
◦ Western-educated Indians sought religious and social reform, aiming to combine Upanishadic wisdom with Western rationalism. This laid groundwork for yoga's revival as a "spiritual science".
◦ Key figures include Shri Yogendra (1897-1989), often called the Father of the Modern Yoga Renaissance. In 1918, he founded The Yoga Institute, blending traditional Hatha Yoga with Western gymnastics to focus on physical health as well as spiritual liberation, laying the foundation for today's emphasis on asana.
◦ Swami Sivananda (1887-1963) was another influential yogi. A Western-educated physician, he modernized, systematized, and popularized yoga, authoring over 200 books and lecturing globally. He founded the Divine Life Society in 1936. Sivananda introduced a simpler approach for ordinary people, focusing on five practices: Exercise, Breathing, Relaxation, Diet, and Positive Thinking & Meditation.
◦ T. Krishnamacharya (1888-1989), a student of Shri Yogendra, is widely regarded as the Father of Modern Asana-based Yoga. He founded the Mysore School of Yoga and invented Vinyasa-style yoga. His influential disciples include Indra Devi, Pattabhi Jois, B.K.S. Iyengar, K.V. Desikachar, and G. Mohan. Krishnamacharya's yoga was an eclectic mix of Hatha Yoga, British military calisthenics, and regional Indian gymnastic/wrestling traditions.
Global Popularization:
◦ Indra Devi (a disciple of Shri Yogendra) opened her yoga studio in Hollywood in 1947, teaching yoga to celebrities, which sparked widespread public interest.
◦ Paramahansa Yogananda (1893-1992) founded Kriya Yoga and the Self-Realization Fellowship, introducing millions to meditation and Kriya Yoga through his book Autobiography of a Yogi.
◦ B.K.S. Iyengar emphasized detailed alignment and therapeutic practice, introducing props.
◦ Pattabhi Jois developed an athletic, structured flow called Ashtanga Yoga, from which modern Vinyasa is derived.
◦ T.K.V. Desikachar focused on adapting yoga to individual needs for maximum therapeutic benefit (Viniyoga).
• Yoga Today: The 20th century saw yoga transform from being little-known to internationally recognized. In 2015, the United Nations General Assembly established June 21 as "International Day of Yoga," firmly placing it on the world stage. An estimated 300 million people worldwide practice yoga today, spending billions annually on related products and services.
• Transformation and Benefits: Modern yoga has moved significantly from its mystical origins, often focusing on fitness and relaxation rather than spiritual liberation (moksha). While much of today's asana-based "yoga as exercise" would be unrecognizable to pre-20th-century yogis, it offers numerous benefits, including physical health, stress reduction, improved flexibility, strength, and mental well-being. Importantly, it can serve as a gateway to deeper spiritual exploration for many practitioners.