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What is Yoga?

Yoga refers to a group of physical, mental and spiritual practices, which have their routes in ancient Indian philosophy. The word Yoga means to “yolk” or “bind”, and is often interpreted to mean “union” – the union of the mind, body and spirit.

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The History of Yoga

Yoga’s ancient sacred texts were traditionally transmitted orally from teacher to student. Any writings were transcribed on palm leaves that were easily damaged, destroyed or lost. This makes the history of yoga somewhat obscure and uncertain.

However, the development of yoga can be traced back to over 5,000 years ago, but some think that it may be up to 10,000 years old.

Yoga’s long, rich history can be divided into four main periods of innovation, practice and development:

Pre-Classical Yoga

In Indo-European language, the Sanskrit word “Yoga” is first mentioned in the Vedas - a collection of religious texts containing songs, mantras and rituals used by Brahmans (Vedic priests). The Brahmans and Rishis (mystic seers) slowly refined and developed Yoga, documenting their practices and beliefs in the Upanishads - a huge work containing over 200 scriptures. The Upanishads took the idea of ritual sacrifice from the Vedas and internalized it, teaching the sacrifice of the ego through self-knowledge, action (karma yoga) and wisdom (jnana yoga). The most renowned of the Yogic scriptures is the Bhagavad-Gîtâ, composed around 500 B.C.E.

Classical Yoga

The first systematic presentation of yoga, written in the second century, was Patanjali’s Yoga-Sutras – a collection of 195 statements providing somewhat of a philosophical guidebook for dealing with the challenges of being human.  These Sutras described the “eight-limbed path” of Raja Yoga, which is often called "classical yoga". This "eight limbed path" contained the steps and stages towards obtaining Samadhi (enlightenment). Patanjali is often considered the father of yoga. The sutras that give guidance on how to gain mastery over the mind and emotions, and advice on spiritual growth, still strongly influence most styles of modern yoga today. However, most people practicing yoga today are engaged in the third limb, “asana”, which is a program of physical postures designed to purify the body and provide the physical strength and stamina required for long periods of meditation (see Hatha Yoga).

Post-Classical Yoga

A few centuries after Patanjali, yoga masters began to reject the teachings of the ancient Vedas and embrace the physical body as the means to achieve enlightenment. They created a system of practices designed to rejuvenate the body and prolong life. Tantra Yoga was the name given to the radical techniques used to cleanse the body and mind to break the knots that bind us to our physical existence. The exploration of these physical-spiritual connections and body-centered practices led to the creation of what we primarily think of as yoga in the West: Hatha Yoga.​

Modern Period

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​​In the late 1800s/early 1900s, yoga masters began to travel to the West, attracting attention and followers. In the 1920s and 30s, Hatha Yoga was strongly promoted in India with the work of T. Krishnamacharya, Swami Sivananda and other yogis. Krishnamacharya produced three students that would continue his legacy and increase the popularity of Hatha Yoga in the West: B.K.S. Iyengar, T.K.V. Desikachar and Pattabhi Jois. Hatha Yoga now has many different schools or styles, all emphasizing the different aspects of the practice.

​Yoga is now a multi-billion pound industry. There is a vast array of different yoga styles on the market today, ranging from Kundalini Yoga to beer yoga!

​Styles of Yoga

Iyengar - Developed by B.K..S. Iyengar, this form of yoga is about the precision and detail of the body’s alignment in each pose. Props such as blocks, blankets, and bolsters are used to help the practitioner work within a range of motion that is safe and effective for them. Each posture is held for a period of time rather than tied together by a series of “vinyasas” (see Vinyasa yoga).

Vinyasa - This is a dynamic practice that links movement and breath together in a dance-like way. The pace can be quick, and usually poses are not held for longer than a breath.

Ashtanga - The founding father of Ashtanga yoga is Sri K Patabi Jois. This is a challenging yet orderly approach to yoga, which consists of specifically sequenced yoga poses, designed to build internal heat from the flow and breath through each pose. The same poses are performed in the exact same order in each class. Some classes are guided by a teacher, while Mysore style classes require self-practice with a teacher in the room to offer assistance and adjustements where needed.

Yin - Yin is the exact opposite of the flowing/dynamic practices. Poses are held for several minutes, encouraging the body and mind to find a place of balance and calm. This meditative practice is designed to target the deeper connective tissues and fascia, restoring length and elasticity to the muscles. Props are used so that the body can release into the posture instead of actively flexing or engaging the muscles. Like meditation, it can provoke intense feelings at first, but after a few classes it has deeply restorative powers.

Hot yoga -Hot yoga is similar to Bikram in that it is practiced in a heated room. But there is no set sequence of postures, and usually classes are more Vinyasa in style. The room may not feel as hot as in a Bikram studio, but whilst the heat enables deeper movement into poses, it can be easy to overstretch so it is important to work within individual capacity.

Kundalini - Kundalini is a physically and mentally challenging practice that looks very different from a typical yoga class. It involves kriyas (repetitive physical exercises coupled with intense breath work), chanting, singing and meditating. The goal is to break through internal barriers, releasing untapped energy residing within, and bringing about a higher level of self-awareness.
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Hatha - The Sanskrit term “hatha” (meaning “forcefull” or “wilful”), actually refers to any yoga that teaches physical postures designed to align the skin, muscles, and bones. Hatha is more of an umbrella term encompassing most yoga styles. 
Initially, the discipline of hatha yoga was developed as a vehicle for meditation. The repertoire of hatha yoga poses prepared the body, and particularly the nervous system, for stillness, creating the necessary physical strength and stamina that allowed the mind to remain calm. Classes are therefore usually slower-moving, with each pose being held for a few breaths.
The word hatha is also translated into ha meaning "sun" and tha meaning "moon,". “Hatha Yoga” is commonly interpreted as the union of pairs of opposites – bringing balance between strength and flexibility, effort and surrender, the left and right sides of the nervous system (ida and pingala), and the masculine and feminine qualities that reside within every individual. The postures are also designed to open the many channels of the body—especially the main channel, the spine—so that energy can flow freely.
Hatha yoga is a powerful tool for self-transformation. It asks the practitioner to bring attention to the breath, which helps to still the fluctuations of the mind and be more present in the unfolding of each moment.