I am sure you are at least familiar with yoga, its positions etc, but how and where did it originate. Lets take a look at the history of yoga shall we?

Hatha yoga is the physical side of yoga. This where the movments and breathing exercises are practiced. But this is only one facet of the eight-limb path of yoga. Adherents have attained knowledge and insights from the Vedic scriptures which are over 2000 years old. And, thanks to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, so can you.

Through the Yoga Sutras we gain insights into yogas rich, facinating history. Also, by exploring this vast store of beliefs, knowledge and practice we may be able to achieve a higher level of enlightenment.

Over thousands of years the history of yoga has been distributed through many and varied schools of thought. But they all have there roots in the ancient Vedas and therefore share many of the same characteristics.

Where they do differ is in what they stress as their primary goal or path to enlightenment.If we look at karma yoga its focus is on service where raja yoga stresses transformational knowledge. And while dhyanya yoga's practitioners meditate on the absolute, those who practice hatha yoga concetrate on physical postures along with breathing execises.

The Founder of Yoga

Around 2000 years ago a physician by the name of Patanjali set out one-hundred and ninty-five sutras or aphorisms. The history of yoga can trace its roots back to these carefully laid out ideas which still today are the guidelines which we use to fully integrate yoga into our lives.

Here then are the eight limbs of Patanjali:

- Yamas: If you are a christian or know of the story od Moses and the 10 commandments you will recognize the 5 yamas. They are moral tenets by which one should lead their life. They are; truth and honesty, non-violence,  non-possessiveness, non-stealing, and non-lust.

- Niyamas: There are 5 of these as well which set out how one should care for the inner-self. They are; austerity, purity, contentment, the reading of sacred texts, and a consiousness of the divine in ones life.

- Asanas: This is the physical aspect of yoga, the postures, movements and breathing that people normally associate with this ancient art. Originally the asanas where laid out to prepare ones body for the rigors of meditation over long periods of time. Of course today people gravitate to yoga for the physical benefits it provides.

- Pratyahara: Here the goal is to be able to meditate without distractions to be able to withdraw from your senses, if you will.

- Pranayama: Prana is the name for ones life-force. Pranayama is the ability to control your breathing. To prepare ones body and mind for meditating pranyama is utilized.

- Dhyana: Here you meditate on the absolute allowing you to free yourself completely from distractions and outside influences and gain control of your mind.

- Dharana: Dharana is also a form of meditation but here you meditate on a fixed point or object which will strengthen ones concentration and again allow control over your mind,

- Samadhi: This has been called many things but most simply it is…. enlightenment.

The goal of many serious practitioners all through the history of yoga has been to attain enlightenment. Yoga supplied them with the knowledge to achieve this goal. The eight-limbs, used together created a sound and healthy body which allowed them to meditate more deeply and develope their mind to a point where enlightenment was attained.

Of course today most people use yoga to develop and improve their physical self, but it does help your mind as well.