Yoga history

The word Yoga is derived from the Sanskrit word "Yuj" meaning to join or unite. This implies meeting or uniting all aspects of the individual ' body with mind and mind with soul ' to result in a joyful, harmonius and useful life, and spiritually, joining the individual with the supreme.

In India, yoga is understood to be one of the six divisions of classical philosophy and is referenced throughout the Vedas ' timeless Indian writings and thought to be some of the oldest text in existence. The Upanishads are also philosophical writings which postdate the Vedas and talk about the nature of the "soul" and universe.

The origins of yoga are thought to be far older than that, starting from the spoken traditions of Yogis, where knowledge of Yoga was passed down from Guru (spiritual teacher) to Sisya (spiritual student) all the way to the originators of Yoga, "the Rishis," who were the first to begin investigations into the nature of reality and man's inner world.

It is believed in legend that knowledge of Yoga was first handed down by Lord Shiva to his wife Parvati, and from this place into the lives of the people of the world.