Modern scholars divide yoga into four periods:
pre-classical period
Starting from 5000 BC until the emergence of Rig Veda, the period of more than 3000 years was the original development of yoga and a period of lack of written records. Yoga gradually developed from a primitive philosophical thought to a method of practice. Meditation, meditation, and ascetic practices are central to the practice of yoga.
classical period
From the general record of the Vedas in 1500 BC, to the explicit record of yoga in the Upanishads, to the appearance of the Bhagavad-gita, the integration of yoga practice and Vedanta philosophy was completed, making yoga this one. Folk spiritual practice has become orthodox, from emphasizing practice to behavior, belief, and knowledge that go hand in hand.
Around 300 BC, the great Indian sage Patanjali created the "Yoga Sutra", on the basis of which Indian yoga really took shape, and the yoga practice was officially set as a complete system of eight branches. Patanjali is revered as the father of yoga.
Patanjali, the father of yoga, is generally believed to have been born in the Ra'r'h region of India between about 200 and 500 BC. Legend has it that Patanjali's mother, Gonika', was a learned yogi who had always hoped to pass on what she had learned to a wise man, but failed to do so. Konica wanted to say that her life was running out, so she prayed to the sun god, hoping to give her the sage she was looking for. She held water in both hands and closed her eyes to pray to the sun god. Just as she was about to offer water to the sun god, she opened her eyes and saw a small snake in her hand, which instantly transformed into a human shape and said to her, "I want to be your child." Konica agreed and named him Patanjali. Pat means drop, an'jali means folded hands, and it is named Patanjali (Hindi: पतंजलि) because Patanjali is like someone who fell into her hands from the sky.
According to legend, Patanjali is the snake god Adisesa who was reincarnated as the ancestor of yoga under the blessing of Lord Shiva in order to write Dharma and dedicate himself to the sacred dance.
post-classical period
From the "Yoga Sutra", it is post-classical yoga. It mainly includes "Yoga Upanishads", Esoteric Buddhism and Hatta Yoga. There are twenty-one "Yoga Upanishads". In these "Upanishads", pure cognition, reasoning and even meditation are not the only ways to achieve liberation. They are all necessary through the physical transformation and physical transformation caused by ascetic practice techniques. Only through spiritual experience can we achieve the state of unity of Brahman and self. Therefore, the combination of dieting, abstinence, asanas, seven rounds, etc., plus the combination of mantras and mudras, is the essence of yoga in the post-classical period.
The 19th century "Kersnamochoana" is the father of modern yoga. After that, "Inga" and "Diskja" are the leaders of Raja Yoga. In addition, the "Kundalo Yoga" and "Shiva Aranda" yoga of the Indian Sikhs are also two important yoga sects, one for qi and one for heart.
Modern Development of Yoga
Yoga has developed to this day, and it has become a body and mind exercise practice widely spread around the world. From India to Europe and the United States, Asia-Pacific, Africa, etc., it is highly respected because of its obvious effects on psychological decompression and physical health care. At the same time, various yoga branch methods have been continuously evolved, such as hot yoga, hatha yoga, hot yoga, health yoga, etc., as well as some yoga management science.
In modern times, there have also been some yoga masters who have extensive influence in the world, such as Sri Aurobindo, Benxi, Iyengar, Swami Randford, Zhang Huilan, etc. It is undeniable that the long-standing yoga will be more loved by people from all walks of life. India Patanjali Yoga Institute Co., Ltd., with Swami Randford as the chief master, is the oldest and most authoritative yoga institute and yoga instructor qualification rating certification organization in the world.
