So, you must have read numerous times, in numerous journals and magazines, about the background of yoga. It is probably a known fact, that it is a 5,000 years old science, which dates back to the Vedic times. The teaching from times immemorial follows the ancient Gurukul system. The main mode of transfer of knowledge is oral and through physical demonstrations. The Yoga School in Rishikesh follows the same method of transfer of knowledge.
If you want to go back to your roots and unearth myriad possibilities, then you should embrace yoga. Moreover, you must join a yoga school in India, to get authentic knowledge. Yoga is a part of the oldest holistic healthcare systems. So, the lineage which the schools follow in India can help you imbibe the qualities of the true yogi. The connotation of the word ‘Yoga’ is ‘union’. It is about the union of the mind, your body, and your soul. You can reach the change of union, by engaging in practices such as asanas, meditation, and Pranayama.
To know more, and delve into the background of yoga, you must read this article.
The Yoga School in India Decodes The Periods
You can group the periods into four. Vedic Yoga is one of the earliest periods, which focuses on the Vedas. The Vedas are sacred scriptures related to the Brahman. They are also the basis of Hinduism. You will come across the oldest Vedic teachings in the Vedas. The period has clear connotations of rituals and chanting, as a part of daily life.
After the Vedic period, comes the Pre-classical Yoga stage, which lasted for around 2,000 years. This is the period, during which the Upanishads came into existence. The Upanishads speak of the Guru, as an authoritative figure. And the students or disciples were supposed to stay close to him, to learn in entirety. Ritual sacrifice was held in high esteem in this period, too. If you are thinking, when the asanas came into existence, then you still need to have patience, as it is not until the next era.
The Classical period of yoga saw huge changes in the realm of yoga. This is also the time when Patanjali’s Sutras assumed a lot of importance. People came face-to-face with the practices, such as asanas, meditation, and abstinence from bad habits, in this era itself. Patanjali is also called the Father of Yoga, for the very same reason. The sutras also form the basis for living and stressed the development of good habits, in general. You can learn about the same at the Yoga School in Rishikesh. Living Yoga School is one of the most prominent schools in the country, which gives you an in-depth knowledge of yoga. If you are seeking knowledge, that a teacher should be aware of, then you should head there.
Subsequently, the Post-classical period of yoga gave rise to Hatha Yoga. And, it is the current form that dominates the yoga market. It is also in this phase, that the body came to be regarded as a temple, and main aim was to harmonise. Tantra Yoga also gained prominence, along with Hatha Yoga.
Modern Yoga – As It Is Today
In this period, which is now, you will see that yoga is more about the body, than the mind. Most yoga enthusiasts view yoga as a means to fitness. Only traditional schools, like Living Yoga School, will teach you the background and relevance in current times. No matter, how you look at it, you need to connect spiritual as well as physical practices. The asanas have actually come up from the philosophies and teachings. The poses or asanas that you see are the manifestations of what you are thinking and behaving like.
Moreover, you will learn in the classes at the above-mentioned school, how you can extract the best from within yourself, by identifying who you are. Once you are able to do that, you can master asanas, in a jiffy. If you want to take up a teaching career, then you must learn about the background of yoga in complete detail. Unless and until, you know what and why you are doing, you cannot achieve anything. Yoga can provide you with the solace that you are looking for. When you teach yoga to a group of students, you might encounter situations or queries, where inquisitive students ask, ‘why we are doing, what we are doing’. For such instances, it has become important to understand the history.
In today’s times, you can navigate to physical posture practice, after you have a fair idea of the history. Most schools fail to do that. That is why, it becomes important for a yoga learner to find a school, which teaches the significance of yoga in the first place.
Final Words
No matter, which school you join, you need to ensure what lineage they are following. The course syllabus must cover aspects like history of yoga, background, periods, teaching pedagogy, and anatomy, to name a few. Moreover, you must understand the fundamentals, before navigating to difficult postures or asanas. Additionally, you must understand, yogic practices also help in internal cleansing, as that would help you to direct your energies for higher objectives.
Sat karma kriyas also happen to be an important part of yogic practices. You must ensure that these kriyas are covered in the syllabus as well. Again, the location also plays a huge role, in your yogic learning. The moment you step on the soil of Rishikesh, you can feel the vibrations. There are temples and monasteries located in every nook and corner. Moreover, it is also a part of the Dev Bhoomi. The ambience gives you a clear indication of what you have set out to achieve. Joining the Yoga School in India, can be one of the best decisions of your life. Transform yourself inside out and fly like a bird. That is the ultimate motive that drives yogis.
