Yoga and its History

1. What is Yoga?

Yoga is a type of discipline that originally came from an Indian influence. It is a physical, mental, and spiritual exercise. Hatha yoga and Raja yoga are two of the famous practices. Yoga was believed to be developed during the ancient Indian times. It was presented to the West after the success of Swami Vivekanada in the later part of the 19th and during the earliest part of the 20th century. By the year 1980, yoga had become a well-known workout in the Western part of the globe. Actually, yoga is more than an exercise or a workout. It also for meditation and is spiritual for Indians.

2. The History

There are no traces as to when Yoga was discovered and developed in the Indian history. Indus Valley Civilizations, Pre-Vedic in Northeastern India, Vedic civilization, and Sramana-Movement are the suggested origins of yoga. By the middle of the 19th century, yoga caught the attention of the Western people together with some subjects of the Indian philosophy.

Swami Vivekananda was the first Hindu teacher who introduced and actively advocated yoga around Europe and US during the 1890s. It was the intellectuals and philosophers who first took interest on this practice along with other individuals with degrees who had interest in the Indian culture.