what is hatha yoga?

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what is the history of yoga?

The Sanskrit word "yoga" means "to join together or unite." Yoga teaches us how to unite our body, mind and spirit and return to the wholeness that is our true nature. Over thousands of years, the science of yoga has proven itself an effective way to cultivate physical health, develop concentration, experience peace of mind and realize our oneness in Spirit.

The impulse to grow and transform is universal, and all cultures have mystical teachings and practices similar to yoga. Yoga is a particular set of teachings and practices that arose 5,000 years ago in the Vedic culture of India. Gradually spreading from the Indian peninsula to other parts of the planet, yoga has evolved to respond to the needs of different peoples and cultures. With millions of people practicing around the globe, yoga has clearly become a citizen of the world.

Yoga first came to America when Swami Vivekenanda addressed the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893. Yoga became more widely known through the work of Swami Yogananda, who published his famous Autobiography of a Yogi in 1946 and lived and taught in California from 1920 until his death in 1952.

During the 1960s and 1970s, many adventurous Western youths journeyed to India to explore Yoga and other spiritual traditions. At the same time, an unprecedented number of yogis, swamis and gurus came to this country to teach. Yogi Amrit Desai was one of those pioneers, coming to the United States in 1960 and founding Kripalu Yoga Fellowship in 1967. In 1977 Yogi Desai was joined by his guru, the renowned yoga master Swami Kripalu, who left thousands of Indian devotees to spend the last four years of his life practicing and teaching in America. Together, Yogi Desai and Swami Kripalu created Kripalu's unique approach to spiritual practice.

Over the last three decades, the American yoga movement has grown in size and sophistication. At present, more than 15 million Americans practice yoga on a regular basis.

The best known approach to yoga is the eight-stage path of Raja Yoga formalized by the sage Pantanjali in 200 C.E. The world's oldest holistic approach to self-development, the effectiveness of Raja Yoga has been proven over thousands of years.

The eight stages are:

• Yama & Niyama: Ethical Living
• Asana: Yoga Postures
• Pranayama: Control of the Life Force by Breath Regulation
• Pratyahara: Withdrawal of Attention From the Senses
• Dharana: Concentration or One-Pointedness
• Dhyana: Meditation or One-Flowingness
• Samadhi: Ecstasy or Self-Realization

Yoga is also informed by the philosophy of tantra, which came to maturity around 1000 C.E. The word "tantra" means "web" or "woof" and metaphorically refers to the view that the universe is an undivided and seamless whole. Like quantum physics, tantra does not recognize a distinction between matter and Spirit. Tantra views all aspects of human life as inherently sacred and states that spirituality can express as immanence as well as transcendence.

Yoga is often thought of as only the physical disciplines of asana and pranayama. Though extremely valuable, these practices are part of a much larger system intended to purify the body, concentrate the mind and guide a practitioner to the highest stages of human development.

A Diversity of Approaches to Unity

The teachings of yoga encompass a diversity of approaches to the common task of realizing our oneness with Spirit. Traditionally, yoga recognized three paths suited to the differing temperament of individuals.

Bhakti Yoga

Those with a devotional nature practiced Bhakti Yoga, the path of love and devotion. Bhakti yogis use ritual, mantra meditation, chanting, prayer and inspirational stories to cultivate heartfelt devotion and merge with Spirit.

Karma Yoga

Those with an active and dynamic nature practiced Karma Yoga, the path of skillful action and service to humanity. Karma yogis cultivate non-attachment to the fruits of their actions, acting for the good of all and realizing Spirit by selflessly serving others.

Jnana Yoga

Those with an intellectual nature practiced Jnana Yoga, the path of mental clarity and discriminating wisdom. Jnana yogis cultivate clarity and discrimination through the study of scripture and rigorous self-inquiry, learning how to discriminate between what is real and everlasting and what is unreal and transitory.

Although differing in their emphasis, each of these approaches utilizes the spectrum of spiritual practices commonly associated with yoga.

© 2002 Kripalu Yoga Felllowship. All rights reserved.

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