History of Yoga
The science and practice of yoga is over 5,000 years old. Yogi masters, such as, BKS Iyengar, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Yogananda, and Indra Devi introduced the practice of yoga to the United States. Yoga is much more than physical postures, also known as Asanas. Yoga as we know it today has its seeds of origin within the Yoga Sutras written by Patanjali about 800 BC. In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali identified eight limbs of yoga, most people are initially drawn to the physical aspect of yoga known as Asanas or physical postures. When the physical asanas are practiced with the highest intention, awareness, and balance, the seeds of the remaining seven limbs of yoga will take root and begin to sprout spontaneously in the student's life.
The Eight Limbs of Yoga
- Yama: Morals or principles of right-living
- Niyama: Personal attitudes and practices that purigy the mind and body
- Asana: Physical posture
- Pranayama: Breath consciousness or Breath Control
- Pratyahara: Sense integration
- Dharana: One-pointed concentration
- Dhyana: Meditation
- Samadhi: Absorption
