This first podcast is an informal, non-scripted talk on the history of yoga.
In a short 7 minute clip, follow the history of yoga from the first vedic chants given 15,000 years ago through the great teachings of Sada Shiva and Sri Krsna up to the codification of yoga into astaunga yoga (8 limbs of yoga) by Maharishi Patanjali.
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Very Nice!
Satyam, I am wondering if you happen to know if Mr. Patanjali meant for the 8 limbs of yoga to be given equal weight in practice? I wonder how it came to be that we have such an emphasis on the limb for asanas. Is it that way in India too? Thanks for your podcast! I love checking the blog for the gifts you leave here and to share in everyone’s experiences with yoga.
Hi Jan,
Nice to see you here 🙂 glad you have been keeping tabs on the blog.
Those early yogis, like Patanjali who lived around 2200 years ago, probably never imagined that one day the asana practice would be given so much emphasis.
On the one hand, because of this emphasis our asana practice has become more scientific and systematized. This has been highly beneficial for human growth and development.
On the other hand, those early yogis were very much meditative based. The term asana literally means ‘seat’ and that seat or asana meant sitting in a particular pose for meditation, usually padmasana, or lotus pose.
So their practice of asanas was distinctly different from what is happening today. In the last 100 years, the asana practice has become more involved.
In India today, there are many branches of yoga – one of which is hatha yoga. Hatha yoga deals with exclusively the physical postures. And it is primarily these types of yogis who have become so well known here in the US – practitioners like BKS Iyengar, Bikram Choudury, the late Shrii Patabhi Jois and others.
Back in the 60’s – when the Beatles went to India and the west first became enthralled with yoga on a mass scale – the emphasis was more on meditation. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was one of the well known yogis those days and his practice was oriented more towards meditation.
Raja yoga – literally meaning the ‘King of Yoga” combines all the aspects of yoga. It is distinctly more meditative based yet incorporates the physical practice of hatha yoga, as well as karma (selfless social service), jinana (knowledge), and bhakti (devotion).
In raja yoga, all the 8 limbs are embraced fully. In that process, the third limb of asana takes up a comparatively small part of the practice. My own training is in raja yoga, as I may have occasionally mentioned in class.
In the ashram in India, we would all do our own personal yoga postures (4-5 total) in the morning and evening for about 1/2 hr each time, and then the whole rest of the day and night would be for meditation, kiirtan (chanting), study, and collective programs.
I think the reason why the physical postures have become so popular here are multi-fold:
1) Certain Indian yogis have come to the US, become extremely famous, and propagated the asana practice as they themselves were basically hatha yogis.
2) There is a distinct need for the asana practice in our culture. Poor posture at the computer, sedentary lifestyle, heart issues, obesity, and the like make asana a natural fit for the present day American society.
3) Asanas can be seen, felt, and touched. They are something tangible where people feel as though they are really doing something. In contrast, as practical as meditation really is, it can also seem quite elusive, even imaginary to some.
4) Our American society is inclined toward exercise and yoga asanas represent a very dynamic way to keep fit, yet also get the benefits of a holistic approach to wellness.
After all that, I probably have still only answered the question to a small degree. What a very excellent question it was. Hopefully, though, this does provide at least a partial view as to how and why the third limb (asana) of astaunga yoga has become so widely practiced and heavily emphasized in the US.
Lastly, let me add that I do think it is an excellent stepping stone into the greater world of yoga.
Namaskar,
Satyam
Thank you for this. So much to learn.
This podcast has also been posted to the Yoga Journal Community Forum. The following three comments were posted to the YJ Community by different members:
[#1] This is really good. I recommend it for everyone. Great introduction for beginners, quick review and summary for the more experienced, delivered in a voice and tone that sounds like Yoga itself.
Please give us all a gift, satyam, by making this just the first of many.
[#2] Thank you for this wonderful talk. Short and concise. Can remember info presented this way.
[#3] I have listened and just visited your website. Both are well done and very welcoming to the student. As a new student of yoga (just over a year) I shall be returning.
Thank you for your time,your teaching, and your understanding of what it is to be a student. This history of yoga be it only 7min long, Gave me more information and understanding than I can explain. The water is not as muddy. Thank you.
Great podcast and your response to Jan’s question was also very informative.
Thanks for this — very informative and interesting. Also enjoyed Jan’s question and Satyam’s response.