EY Asana II, Classical, Modern/Colonial, Hatha Yoga Lesson

 

Yoga has a rich and ancient history, yet much is so ancient we are still discovering the gifts. Before the ancient yogic texts were created, yoga was taught as an oral transmission. The first writings were transcribed on fragile palm leaves, many lost or damaged. It is difficult to know how far back in history yoga began, we have texts dating back 5,000 years ago, yet some researchers date yoga back 10,000 years ago. At this time historians have divided the history of the practice and development of yoga innovation into four main periods.

 

Pre-Classical Yoga

Classical Yoga

Post Classical Yoga

Modern/Colonial & Hatha Yoga

 

 

Pre-Classical Yoga

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The beginnings of yoga root back over 5,000 years ago and were originally developed by the Indus-Sarasvati civilization in Northern India. The Rig Veda one of the oldest sacred vedic texts was the first to mention the word yoga. The Vedas were written and used by Vedic priests called Brahmans in India over 5,000 years ago offering rituals, mantras and songs for enlightenment. The Brahmans and Rishis where known as mystic seers. They documented many yogic practices and spiritual beliefs in the Upanishads.

The Upanishads is a massive collection of spiritual texts derived from India saints, Brahmans and Rishis and has become the very roots of yoga. The Upanishads contain over 200 scriptures, inspired over many years. The Upanishads documented yoga practices and spiritual beliefs aimed toward Self realization and God Realization.

During this Pre-Classical Period of Yoga was an outpouring of new idea’s, beliefs, techniques. What is important to know is that all the Indian Saints didn’t always agree and often they contradicted one another.

During this Pre-Classical Period was when the idea of ritual sacrifice was transformed from an external process to an internal process of sacrificing the ego through the divine action of karma yoga and the wisdom of gyana (Juana) Yoga.

 

The most renowned yogic scripture of this period is the Bhagavad-Gita composed around 500 BCE.

 

Classical Yoga

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The Classical Period of Yoga is primarily defined by the first systematic presentation of yoga explained in Patanjali’s Yoga-Sutras written in the second century. Here is where the first organized techniques and principles of yoga were defined.

Patanjali, known as the “Father of Yoga” is famous for his yoga sutras organized into what is called Raja Yoga or Kingly or Classical Yoga. It has it’s focus on control and liberation of the mind. It includes Patanjali’s 8 Limbs of Yoga.

 

1. Yamas; Abstaining from harming others, harmlessness

• Non-violence, harmlessness

• Truthfulness

• Non-stealing

• Not wasting our energy

• Abstaining from hording or being greedy

 

1. Niyamas; Principles to apply in our daily lives.

• Cleanliness and purity of body and mind

• Contentment

• Discipline

• Study

• Devotion

 

1. Asana; Yoga poses, posture of seat

2. Pranayama; Intensifying, enlivening and mastering the life force energy

3. Pratyahara; Sense withdrawal, inner reflection

4. Dharana; Concentration, focused attention

5. Dhyana; Uninterrupted flow of meditation

6. Samadhi; Bliss, liberation, awakening

 

Patanjali’s 8 Limb Path of Yoga is still very popular and practiced all over the world still today.

The ultimate goal of Patanjali’s 8 Limbed path is Samadhi… a deep state of expanded conscious awareness that includes states of bliss, spiritual liberation and awakening.

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Post Classical Yoga

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A few centuries after Patanjali’s Raja Yoga, Yoga master’s began to change their interest. They turned away from the ancient Vedic teachings and embraced a whole new system of yoga called Tantric Yoga. Tantric Yoga is not just about sex, it is about embracing the entire physical body and achieving enlightenment through deep connection and oneness of the physical body.

Yoga master’s found that it helped their students to meditate in silence after rigorous physical exercises and body centered practices. They found to include the physical body in the practice of yoga helped students quiet the mind and reach Samadhi, the ultimate goal of yoga.

Tantric Yoga is a body centered practice with techniques and practices aimed at cleansing the physical body of traumas and energies held in the body tissues. What some called radical techniques at the time, yet simple physical/emotional practices used to transform energies in the body and the mind that held students back from enlightenment.  Body centered practices for self realization, releasing that which no longer serves, letting go of that which blocks the awareness of loves presence.

The goal of Tantric Yoga is liberation from the body and mind and freedom from the cycle of reincarnation. Tantric Yoga is also aimed at cr