Dr Manjeet Singh

• Yoga is a word from the ancient Sanskrit

language that means Union, the attachment and
merger of the individual human consciousness
with the cosmic consciousness.
• The word Yoga is also used to describe the
difference Yogic Techniques employed, the
difference disciplines that are used to facilitate
the awareness and experience of the body, mind
and spirit integration.

Yogacharya. "Sanskrit Words: An Introduction to the Ancient Language of Yoga - Integral Yoga Magazine." Integral Yoga Magazine. Integral Yoga Magazine, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.
Sanskrit
The history of Yoga in five broad categories

• Vedic Yoga-
• Preclassical Yoga-
• Classical Yoga-
• Postclassical Yoga-
• Modern Yoga
 Vedic Yoga- the oldest form of Yoga.
• The ancient texts of Vedas are the
oldest scriptures in the world.
• Contain what is know as the Rig-
veda.
• The Sanskrit word Veda means
"knowledge" and Rig means "praise“.
• Thus the Rig-Vedas are a collection
of hymns that are in praise of a
higher power.
Vedic Yoga
• can also be called Archaic (ar·kay·ic)Yoga.
• As people believed in a ritualistic way of
life.
• Rituals, sacrifices and ceremonies existed
because they were considered a means of
connection to the spirit world.
• People turned to rishis (rishi) or Vedic
yogis for illumination.
• Vedic masters were blessed with a vision of
the supreme reality and their hymns speak
of their marvelous intuitions.
 Indus-Sarasvati (Sa·ras·va·ti) civilization
• A culture that we now know extended over an area of roughly 300,000 square miles. Pre-dates 3,300
BCE
• This was in fact the largest civilization in early antiquity. In the ruins of the big cities of Mohenjo Daro
(Mo·hen·jo-Da·ro)and Harappa, excavators found depictions engraved on soapstone seals that strongly
resemble yogi-like figures.
• Many other finds show the amazing continuity between that civilization and later Hindu society and
culture.
• Bring the feet a few inches away from the pubic bone.
• Press the feet into each other, but pull the toes back away
from each other.
• Lift the heels off the floor and hold the outsides of the feet
with the hands.
• Lift the heels vertical and in toward the hips. Bring the
mounds of the toes to the floor.
• Place both hands to the floor behind the hips. Lift the hips up
and forward until the feet are vertical.
• Lower the hips and knees to the floor.
• Place the palms together in front of the chest. Look forward.
Hold the pose and breathe.
• To come out, release the hands next to the hips. Use the hands
to lift the hips and release the feet.
PRE-CLASSICAL
• This covers an extensive period of approximately 2,000 years until the
second century.
• Gnostic texts, called the Upanishads, that spoke in detail about the
self and ultimate reality appeared.
• There are approximately 200 Upanishads.
• Yoga scriptures is the Bhagavad-Gita, which was composed around
500 B.C.
• The central teaching of the Gita is, to do ones' duty and not expect
the fruit of the action.
 PRE-CLASSICAL
• In 1200 BC the great teacher Rishaba, who was the exponent of
the tradition of Jainism, also emphasized on efforts dedicated to
the liberation of the spirit.
• It was during this time, that Yoga found its way into Buddhism
too; Lord Buddha was the first Buddhist to study Yoga. Buddhist
scriptures lay stress on meditation and physical postures, which
are Yogic processes.
 • In the second century C.E, Patanjali (Pa·tan·ja·li)
Classical Yoga composed the yoga sutras (su·tra), which consists of 195
aphorisms (aph·o·rism).
• They expound the Raja yoga or the eight-fold path, which
are meant to be memorized, as it is not in written form.
• The earliest known Sanskrit commentary on the sutras is
Yoga- Bhashya (speech on Yoga), by Vyasa in the fifth
century
Patanjali’s 8-fold path of Yoga
1. Yama (Ya·ma), which means social restraints or ethical values; meant to purify
the individual, yama involves the abstinence from injury to others and from lying,
stealing, sex, and avarice.
2. Niyama (ni·ya·ma), which is personal observance of purity, tolerance, and study;
cleanliness of mind and body, equanimity, temperance
3. Asanas (a·sa·na), or physical exercises; Proper Poses.
4. Pranayama, which means breath control or regulation; breath
5. Pratyahara (pra·tya·ha·ra), or sense withdrawal in preparation for Meditation;
shutting out distractions provided by the senses.
6. Dharana (Dhah·rana), which is about concentration; holding the mind to one
thought or object
7. Dhyana, which means Meditation;
8. Samadhi (sa·ma·dhi), which means ecstasy, in which a person experiences
oneness with the universe.
Patanjali believed that each individual is
composed of matter (prakriti) and spirit
(purusha).
He advocated that yoga would restore the spirit to
its absolute reality, a teaching that saw a shift from
non dualism to dualism.
 • The earlier eras saw yogis laying emphasis only on
POST CLASSICAL meditation and contemplation.
• Their goal was to shed their mortal coils and merge with
the infinite; but, during this period, yogis began to probe
the hidden powers of the body.
• Yoga masters designed advanced yogic practices that
would rejuvenate the body and prolong its life.
• This led to Hatha Yoga, which is presently practiced
throughout the body.
 Modern Yoga
Modern yoga is a wide range of yoga practices with differing
purposes, encompassing in its various forms yoga
philosophy derived from the Vedas, physical postures derived
from Hatha yoga, devotional and tantra-based practices, and
Hindu nation-building approaches.
 Cites sheet

Admin. "Yoga and Buddhism: Similarities and Differences." American Institute of Vedic Studies. N.p., 13 June 2012. Web. 04
May 2014.

Beck G. Origins of Yoga: In Search of The Cradle of Civilization; New Light on Ancient India. Yoga Journal [serial online].
October 1996;(130):116. Available from: Alt HealthWatch, Ipswich, MA. Accessed May 8, 2014

De Michelis E. A History Of Modern Yoga : Patañjali And Western Esotericism [e-book]. London: Continuum; 2005. Available
from: eBook Collection (EBSCOhost), Ipswich, MA. Accessed May 8, 2014

Londhe, Sushama. A Tribute to Hinduism: Thoughts and Wisdom Spanning Continents and Time about India and Her Culture.
New Delhi: Pragun Publication, 2008. Print.

Shaw, E. (2010). From the caves of India to the White House lawn, Yoga Journal celebrates 6, 000 years of practice in 35
moMents. Yoga Journal, (231), 88-96

Werner, Karel. Yoga and Indian Philosophy. 3rd ed. Vol. 1. N.p.: Motilal Banarsidass, 1998. Print.

Yogacharya. "Sanskrit Words: An Introduction to the Ancient Language of Yoga - Integral Yoga Magazine." Integral Yoga
Magazine. Integral Yoga Magazine, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.