Yoga is a system of self-development, which leads to the attainment of higher states of consciousness. It is widely spread, but when exactly was yoga invented? It is believed that the practice of yoga was invented or started with the very dawn of civilization. The beginnings of yoga were developed in Northern India more than 5,000 years ago. The word yoga was first mentioned in the oldest sacred texts Rigveda.
The Vedas are collections of texts with songs, mantras, rituals, used by the Brahmins, Vedic priests. Over time yoga has been improved by the Brahmins, who documented their practices and beliefs in the Upanishads, a vast work containing over 200 verses.
Yoga has existed for so long that we do not know the names of those people who developed this teaching in ancient times. This is probably because, in the East, where yoga was best preserved it was considered immodest to turn one's attention to one's personality.
Determining the exact beginning and early development of yoga is difficult, especially since the Indian tradition did not attach importance to the chronological aspect of the occurrence of its teachings, and especially because the knowledge was transmitted orally. It is the oldest system in the world for personal development and union, balancing the body, mind, and spirit.
Originally from India, yoga is a Sanskrit word which, among many translations, means union of mind, body, and spirit and return to innate peace.
The classical period is defined by the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which were the first systematic presentation of yoga. Patanjali is considered the father of yoga, but he did not invent it. He systematized it and introduced it to his students as a science of the mind. In Patanjali's work, there are almost 200 Sutras divided into four sections. It is not known precisely in what period Patanjali lived and when the Sutras were written. It is thought that they have been written in the period from 5000 BC to 300 AD. Yoga Sutras provide a framework and guide to how to gain control of the mind and emotions and tips for spiritual growth. The Patanjali Sutras are the basis for all types of yoga and meditation that exist today.
Centuries after Patanjali, yogis designed a scheme of exercises that aimed to renew the body. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, yoga teachers began to travel to the West, and started to gain followers.
While the western world initially accepted physical postures (asanas) for aesthetic benefits, yoga today is evolving with a greater understanding of Eastern traditions, with many seeking deep meanings from life from their practice.
