My ‘Inside’ Journey with Yoga
Yoga is a mind-and-body practice that originated in ancient India thousands of years ago. The word means to yoke or unite, referring to the union of body, mind, and spirit.
The background of yoga is complicated. Just like trying to perfect your yoga practice, trying to pinpoint the exact origins of yoga is pointless.
What is the origin of yoga? Who was the first to discover it? The majority of scholars agree that yoga's roots are in India. The ancient Indian Rigveda has one of the earliest mentions of yoga, dating back to approximately 1,500 B.C. The Vedic Period was characterized, in part, by the presence of the sacred texts of Brahmanism, referred to as the Vedas.
Typically, Hindu males would practice yoga. The Vedic people revered the Hindu saints, or rishis, as teachers of heavenly harmony. The many different forms of yoga practiced now may have originated from the bodily postures and concentration exercises those early Vedic priests performed.
To determine the exact age of yoga, we reach the pre-classical period, which dates to approximately 500 B.C. Around this period, a collection of writings included religious and philosophical topics known as the Upanishads. For the first time, the word yoga appears in these writings!
Among the most well-known texts in the Upanishad is the Maitrayaniya, which describes the two earliest forms of yoga, Karma and Jnana yoga, and talks about a six-fold route to freedom. On the topic of ancient writing, it was around this time that the well-known Bhagavad Gita, the first known scripture about yoga was composed. Last, the pre-classical period brings the growth of Buddhism and meditation, two practices quite similar to yoga.
Over time, it has evolved into a complex system of physical, mental, and spiritual practices passed down from teacher to student. Patanjali, who wrote the Yoga Sutras around 200 BCE, was the most influential of these teachers. The Yoga Sutras provided a comprehensive framework for yoga, including the Eight Limbs of Yoga, which are still used as a guide for yogic practice today.
Throughout history, yoga has been practiced by various religious groups, including Hindus, Jains, and Buddhists. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, it began to gain popularity in the West, thanks to the efforts of influential teachers such as Swami Vivekananda and Paramahansa Yogananda.
IS YOGA GOOD FOR HEALTH? WHY DO I LOVE DOING YOGA?
Today, it is practiced globally, with numerous styles and approaches. While some still practice it primarily as a spiritual or religious practice, others practice it for its physical and mental health benefits.
My journey with Yoga began by learning from my mother as a child. She has been practicing yoga for a few years now. She taught me breathing techniques and meditation poses. With my upbringing in India, my bond with yoga and meditation grew very deep. I have admired and learned from various gurus in my childhood, striving to emulate them despite limitations.
I started yoga after my mother introduced it when I was eight. I used to watch her while she was learning with her friends. When I asked her if I could learn yoga, she was more than happy to see me interested in something like yoga, which is essential for mindfulness. While I used to watch my mother doing and teaching yoga, I was always interested in how she could flexibly move her body. Children who get into yoga early get to learn more and practice daily to improve at a faster level. As people age, they succumb to stress amongst other challenges of daily life making it difficult to manage the work-life balance. It's where yoga comes into play and helps everyone.
There are numerous reasons why I love doing yoga, and the benefits it brings are also a plus. Some of them include Improved flexibility, strength, balance, and stamina. Consistent practice can result in improved alignment and posture, less muscle stress, and an overall gain in physical fitness.
Yoga is often associated with stress reduction and relaxation. One can lessen anxiety, promote mental clarity, and sharpen one's focus by emphasizing breath control and mindfulness. Practicing yoga can help people become more resilient, emotionally stable, and at peace with themselves. It can reduce stress, facilitate emotional connection, and foster compassion and self-acceptance in people.
Yoga promotes introspection and personal development. People can learn more about themselves, their bodies, and their inner world by engaging in asana (physical postures) and meditation. For Indians and some more practitioners, yoga is a spiritual practice that fosters a deeper connection with themselves, others, and the universe. It can provide a framework for exploring spiritual concepts, interconnectedness, mindfulness, and self-transcendence.
Being a yoga instructor combines dedication, training, and practice.
I have been dedicated to regular practice to learn more and more about yoga poses, breathing techniques and philosophy. I have taken several classes from various yoga instructors to expose myself to different teaching techniques, styles and approaches to yoga.
There are several styles of yoga like Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Bikram, Kundalini, etc. My dedication to this field made me choose the program of Health and Fitness and continue my journey. Ever since I joined InsideOut Studio, my confidence has been boosted. I have taught yoga classes while working at InsideOut. It gave me an insight of how I can gain experience by just letting it out and teaching everyone which helped me gain confidence and experience as an instructor.
By: A.Dhir