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Yoga has a history which is uncertain and obscure due to the oral transmission of sacred texts and the secretive nature of its teachings. The early writings on yoga were transcribed on fragile palm leaves which have not stood the test of time. It is believed that yoga originated in its earliest form about 5000 years back. The history of Yoga can be divides into four main periods:
Pre-Classical Period
It is believed that Yoga originated in the Indus-Sarasvati civilization in Northern India over 5,000 years ago. The word yoga was first mentioned in the oldest of the sacred texts, the Rig Veda. The Vedas are a collection of texts containing songs and rituals used by Brahmans, the Vedic priests. Yoga was slowly refined and developed by Vedic priests, who documented their practices and beliefs in the Upanishads, a huge work containing over 200 scriptures. The most renowned of these Yogic scriptures is the Bhagavad-Gītā, composed around 500 B.C. The Upanishads took the idea of ritual sacrifice from the Vedas and modified it, teaching the sacrifice of the ego through self-knowledge, action (karma yoga) and wisdom (jnana yoga).
Classical Period
The first systematic presentation of yoga was Patanjali's Yoga-Sūtras. It was written in the second century. The text describes the path of Raja Yoga, often called "classical yoga". Patanjali organized the practice of yoga into an "eight limbed path" containing the steps and stages towards obtaining Samadhi or enlightenment. Patanjali is often considered as the father of yoga and his Yoga-Sūtras still strongly influence all styles of modern yoga.
Post-Classical Period
A few centuries after Patanjali, yoga gurus created a system of practices designed to rejuvenate the body and prolong life. They rejected the teachings of the ancient Vedas and embraced the physical body as the means to achieve enlightenment. They developed Tantra Yoga, with radical techniques to cleanse the body and mind to break the knots that bind us to our physical existence. This exploration of these physical-spiritual connections and body centered practices led to the creation of Hatha Yoga.
Modern Period
In the late 1800's and early 1900's, yoga gurus began to travel to the west, attracting attention and followers. In the 1920's, Hatha Yoga was strongly promoted in India with the life long work of T. Krishnamacharya . Krishnamacharya traveled through India giving demonstrations of yoga poses and opened the first Hatha Yoga school. Krishnamacharya produced three students that would continue his legacy and increase the popularity of Hatha Yoga: B.K.S. Iyengar , T.K.V. Desikachar and Pattabhi Jois .
The presence of yoga in the western world was minimal 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. Now Hatha Yoga now has many different schools or styles, all emphasizing the many different aspects of the practice.
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