Here’s a detailed timeline of the history of yoga, highlighting its evolution and significant milestones throughout the centuries.
Prehistoric to Ancient Period (c. 3000 BCE – 500 BCE)
c. 3000 BCE: Indus Valley Civilisation: Some of the earliest evidence of yoga practices may be traced back to this civilisation, where seals depicting figures in yoga postures have been found.
c. 1500 – 500 BCE: Vedic Period: The earliest references to yoga can be found in the ancient texts known as the Vedas, particularly in the Rig Veda (around 1500 BCE). Here, the preliminary concepts of meditation and ritual are formed.
c. 800 – 400 BCE: Upanishads: These texts elaborate on meditation, ethics, and the nature of reality, introducing philosophical foundations for yoga. The Bhagavad Gita, composed around 400 BCE, delineates the paths of yoga, especially Karma Yoga (the path of action).
c. 500 BCE: Life of Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama): The Buddha develops and teaches meditation practices that focus on mindfulness, breath awareness, and insight into the nature of suffering and enlightenment, framing a significant part of the meditative practices that would influence later yogic traditions. His teachings promote the Noble Eightfold Path, closely aligning with concepts of mental training akin to yogic practices.
Classical Period (c. 500 BCE – 800 CE)
c. 500 BCE: Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Patanjali compiles and codifies yoga philosophy in his seminal work, the Yoga Sutras, which provides a systematization of yoga practice and philosophy, focusing on the eight limbs (Ashtanga Yoga) of yoga.
c. 300 BCE – 200 CE: Buddhism and Jainism: These religious traditions, emerging around this time, incorporate yogic principles and practices, emphasising meditation and ethical living.
Medieval Period (c. 800 CE – 1800 CE)
c. 800 – 900 CE: Tantra and Hatha Yoga: The connection between yoga and tantra begins to solidify, with a focus on rituals, the divine feminine, and the cultivation of spiritual energy. Hatha Yoga emerges as a practice emphasising physical postures (asanas) and breath control (pranayama).
c. 1100 CE: The compilation of texts such as the Gheranda Samhita outlines practical yoga systems focusing on physical purification and spiritual benefits.
c. 1200 – 1800: Development of various schools of yoga continues, along with the growth of Bhakti Yoga (path of devotion) during the medieval Bhakti movement, emphasising personal devotion to deities.
Modern Period (c. 1800 CE – Present)
Late 19th Century: The introduction of yoga to the West begins largely due to the travels of figures like Swami Vivekananda, who presents yoga at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in 1893, promoting the philosophical aspects of yoga.
1887-1963: Swami Sivananda: A key figure in the history of modern yoga, Sivananda was a physician who became a renowned teacher and author. He founded the Divine Life Society and wrote over 200 books on yoga, emphasising the need for a holistic approach that included physical practice, meditation, ethical living, and devotion. Sivananda developed various schools of yoga, including Karma Yoga (path of action), Bhakti Yoga (path of devotion), Jnana Yoga (path of knowledge), and Raja Yoga (royal path incorporating meditation). His teachings are all-encompassing and encourage the integration of these practices to achieve self-realisation.
1930 – 1960: Sivananda’s disciples, such as Swami Vishnu-devananda (who founded the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres), Swami Satchidananda, and Swami Chidananda, actively promoted yoga worldwide. They led numerous teaching tours, established ashrams, wrote extensively, and participated in the burgeoning interest in yoga in the West.
1960s – 1980s: The yoga movement expands as Sivananda’s disciples establish yoga schools and centres globally. They play a critical role in popularising yoga as a means of physical fitness, spiritual growth, and wellness.
c. 1920s: The initiation of modern Hatha Yoga, led by teachers like Sri T. Krishnamacharya and later his students, including K. Pattabhi Jois (founder of Ashtanga Yoga) and B.K.S. Iyengar (founder of Iyengar Yoga), who further popularize asana practice.
1930s – 1960s: The surge of interest in yoga in the West, leading to the establishment of several schools and styles. Yoga becomes increasingly linked with fitness and wellness.
1970s – 1980s: The yoga boom in the West grows, with a proliferation of studios, teacher trainings, and the merging of yoga with various wellness therapies, influenced by the counterculture of the time.
1990s – Present: Yoga gains mainstream popularity across the globe. It diversifies into various styles and adaptations such as Power Yoga, Yin Yoga, and practices integrating yoga with physical conditioning, therapy, and mindfulness.
2000s – Present: Increased recognition of yoga’s benefits in physical and mental health, leading to research studies and integration into various fields such as medicine, psychology, and rehabilitation.
Global Impact
Recent Decades: Yoga continues to evolve, incorporating technology (like online classes and apps) and adapting to various cultural contexts. Events like International Yoga Day (established in 2015) recognize the global significance of yoga.
This timeline reflects the rich and diverse history of yoga, illustrating its transformation from ancient spiritual practice to a globally recognised form of physical and mental well-being. The way yoga is practiced and perceived today is a culmination of centuries of philosophical thought and practical tradition.
At Yogam Yoga, although we realised that Yoga is dynamic and every changing, in our classes, we owe our roots to the traditional practices of Hatha Yoga and the Sutras of Patanjali.