Many people believe that yoga is merely a matter of stretching and breathing, which helps your body get into better shape by increasing your strength and flexibility. While these are desirable effects of the yoga practice, the true aim of yoga is liberation, or complete freedom from all forms of suffering.
History
According to ABC-Of-Yoga.com, yoga is said to be as old as mankind, yet there is no actual evidence to prove this claim. The site further states that there was archaeological evidence of the existence of yoga in stone seals around the year 3000 B.C. ABC-of-Yoga.com goes on to explain how scholars, however, believe that yoga has existed even before that, during the Stone Age Shamanism, as yoga and shamanism both helped heal people who make up a community.
Features
The Vedas (an ancient Hindu text) is the scripture that contains the oldest yogic teachings. The times that these teachings appeared in were between the first and second millennia B.C. and the sixth century B.C. in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. During this time, many rishis (wise sages) lived in seclusion in the forests and recorded their visions for the benefit of yoga practitioners who would come after them.
Identification
ABC-of-Yoga.com states that the Yoga Sutra is a text written by one rishi in particular named Patanjali, who attempted to define a standard form of classical yoga between 400 B.C. and 200 A.D. In Patanjali's Yoga Sutra, there are eight steps of yoga, which are also called the eight limbs of classical yoga. These include yamas (restraints), niyamas (observances), asanas (physical exercises), pranayama (breathing exercises), pratyahara (sense withdrawal), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (bliss).
Types
Modern, post-classical yoga includes four main elements, which were popularized by a saint named Swami Sivananda and introduced in the West during the early 19th century. There are yoga asanas, which are the physical poses most people think of when they hear the word yoga. Pranayama breathing exercises are another element of yoga practice, as are shavasana (relaxation), proper diet and dhyana (meditation and positive thinking). In both classical and post-classical yoga, yoga is considered to be more of a lifestyle than merely a physical practice.
Benefits
The physiological benefits of yoga practice include improved balance, better digestion, deeper quality of sleep, more energy, greater immunity, higher endurance and increased flexibility. ABC-of-Yoga.com reports that psychologically, yoga improves memory, mood, concentration ability, learning efficiency and overall well-being.
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