Quotes from Dr.Radhakrishnan’s “Hindu View of Life”

History of yoga

Sergey Vorobey has prepared for the Himalayan Yoga Academy

c. 300 BCE – the term “yoga” first appears in the Hindu scripture Katha Upanishad: Yama, God of Death, teaches young Naciketas about the instrument which helps to live in happiness and not be afraid of the death – about yoga

c. 300 BCE – Shvetashvatara Upanishad describes the procedure during which the practitioner is sitting upright and with the help of the breath controls the mind – Pranayama

c. 100 BCE – Maitri Upanishad formalizes the sixfold form of yoga

1. breath control (Pranayama)

2. Withdrawal of the sences (Pratyahara)

3. Meditation (Dhyana)

Yogi-nagi study martial arts of sufi, and sufis besome more familiar with yogi’s meditation.

basis of Indian physical culture that distinguished it from other systems directed on body training. From the wilderness revived various forms of physical training of Indian origin: fight, stave, kabbadhi, tribal martial arts. All over the country appear “health clubs.” The rebirth of yoga as the fruit of Indian culture played into the hand of Indian’s fighters for independence (led by Vivekananda) from Britain. The nationalist movement was working with all its might on a new system of physical culture in India. 1902: 18-years old Prince Krishnaradzhendra Vadyar the IV ascended to the Maharajas throne of the Maysore Kingdom.

1911: Prof. Ramamurthy went to London, where he demonstrates extraordinary capabilities: breaks the chain around his neck with the help of neck muscles, stayed unharmed after the truck with 60 men and then the elephant moved on him. The professor says that talent he has due to Asanas and Pranayamas. Ramamurthy popularized the new Indian gymnastics, stated in the public that he “tried all possible training systems and stopped at the Indian physical education system as the most effective”. It is well known that for a long period time Ramamurthy educated and trained in military campuses in England, although in public he stated that he studied in a completely unknown ashrams. Ramamurthy has inspired the next generation of yogi- bodybuilders: Ayer, Balsekar, Sundaram. 1913: Alistair Crowley, the black magician from Britain, published a book “Eight lectures about Yoga”. Crowley was familiar with yoga of Patanjali and Kriya-Yoga tradition, Tantra and Western esoteric sexual practices. It washe, whose experiments in the occult and sexual tantra still disorient the minds about the true definition of tantra and yoga. Crowley wasn’t last man, because of which the Orthodox Church considers yoga as a devilish science. During this time the asanas are practiced only for achieving of super-powers like black magic and not to free the mind from the bondage of material attachment, desires, unconscious behavior, habits and etc (samskaras by Patanjali) 1919: Harry C. Buck founded in Chennai the Indian training school for physical trainers and prepared the first Indian athletes’ team for the Olympic Games in 1924. 1919: Shri Yogendra goes to the USA with the aim to found the American Institute of Yoga, in which he attracts prominent doctors and naturopaths. 1920: Nils Bookham publishes guidance on “basic gymnastics”, which a bit later would strongly affect Kuvalayanandu, the founder of Power Yoga. M.V.Krishna Rao from Bangalore organizes regularly in Mysore activities for “nativephysical education”. 1921: Manik Rao founded the Institute, where he researches the physiological effects of asanas, pranayama, bandhas and kriyas. Rao appeals to take yoga as the basis of Indian physical culture. 1924: Shri Yogendra was forced from the U.S. through Immigration Restriction Act, after which he opens the Institute of Yoga in India with new knowledge and experience. The aim of Yogendra was the scientific study of yoga effects and creation of the simple and clear exercises sets for the general public. 1925: Captain P.K. Gupta, a heavyweight athlete, published his book “My system of physical culture”. He states that in his trainings he uses the techniques of Hatha-Yoga. 1927: In Maharashtra is published the first issue of “Vyayam Bodybuilder“. Unknown Katdare is appealing through it about the necessity of the physical education reform for the purpose of the Indian’s independence. The magazine continuously expressed opinions about the decline of Indian culture in general andfrustration of Indian people. 1927: Also in 1927 in the magazine appears the term “yogizm”, which symbolized a synthesis of western training systems in the general system of Indian national physical education. 1927: K.V. Ayer, a prominent bodybuilder and very famous person writes: “Years of Swedish gymnastics haven’t developed our nation not a whit. I declare a boycott of Swedish gymnastics by Ling”. 1927: Ayer begins to hold classes according to his methodology. His advertisement says : “ I will heal your diseases, even chronic with the help of yoga therapy. I will make your muscles big and extremely strong, using the most scientific, practical and fast method. ” Among the Ayer clients were famous persons, such as: musician Ravi Shankar and Maharaja of Mysore Krishnaradzhendra Vadiyar. Ayer helped Maharaja after a heart attack and in return the Maharaja financed the construction of the building “Vyayamshala”(training center in Bangalore) and some pavilions for training in the MysorePalace. In charge of the hall in Mysore was Anat Rao student of Ayer. 1928: The Journalist Kathleen Mayo writes in her research: “Indian training system doesn’t find a response among the higher castes of society. It’s criticized as the gymnastics for the poor people and soulless practice of iron pumping”. 1928: Shri Yogendra published the book “Yoga Asanas. Simple” Yogendra strongly speaks out about the black magic of hatha-yogis and puts the aim to “reform the concept and practice of yoga”. Yogendra was a follower of Swami Vivekananda so far the criticism of mystical hatha-yoga is concerned. Yogendra gives a definition to Yoga: “A comprehensive and practical system of self-improvement, leading through complementary harmonious development of body, mind and mental abilities to the physical well-being, mental harmony, moral superiority and awakening of spiritual consciousness”. Self-improvement model of body-mind-spirit with an emphasis on morality is a sample of the physical culture ofthat time. Yogendra developed a complete theory, which was based on yoga, Lamarckism and eugenics. Yogendra believed (or at least said that he believed) that yoga leads to positive mutations “mikrobioplasma”, which defines the features of future generations. Yogendra hybridized yoga and eugenics and called this synthesis not a mean for individual mental liberation (moksha), but the method for the society evolution. Ayer and Sundaram (Ayers student, right hand in everything) released the book “Religion of physical culture”, in which he reflects about the necessity to “pump spiritual muscle” for reaching complete happiness. Ayer in his Vyayamshale holds public puja in front of Rama and Hanuman statues every Saturday. 1929: G.K. Buck founded the magazine “Vyayam” about sport and exercises. The magazine is published quarterly under the protectoship of the Young Men’s Christian Association. The magazine staff headed by Buck develops programs and training courses, that combine Eastern andWestern methods of physical training. 1929: Sundaram, student and partner of Ayer: “India needs giants with huge muscles, even if they are brainless!” 1930: A new training system for India is strong enough as a national exercise, but didn’t get a broad support among the masses due to its lack of spiritual aspect. By the end of the 30s Young Men’s Christian Association and Shri Yogendra include spiritual aspect into physical education. As an innovator and has an inquisitive mind the young prince of Mysore shows his interest to the ideas of YMCA and charges Krishnamacharya, who just returned from learning meditation in the Himalayas, to set up a system which combines modern physical culture with the Himalayas meditation techniques. This decision becomes a turning point in the history of the world of yoga.

1930: Luther Halsey (YMCA) introduces the concept of the body-mind-spirit (remember the Rig Veda – 1000 BC) Since that time the principle of yoga training of “body-mind-spirit” completely settles down, newly invented by the Americans and which was proposed three thousand years earlier in the Rig Veda. 1931: Experienced bodybuilder Swami Kuvalayananda issues the guidance “Popular Yoga. Asanas” – the first yoga guidance as a therapeutic method. 1932: Pratinidhi Pant, the Raja from Aundha, an ardent follower of Sandow bodybuilding techniques, creates an asanas sequence “Surya Namaskar” on the basis of religious ritual by reaching arms to the sun god Surya. At present the Surya Namaskar is a symbol of modern yoga. An ancient, traditional technique according to the opinion of millions of people, the Surya Namaskar was developed by a bodybuilder for bodybuilders even less than 100 years ago. At that moment Ayer has been already teaching a training program based on synthesis of two systems –yoga and physical training, including Surya Namaskar. Pratinidhi Pant and Ayer were both fans of Sandow techniques. Pant has worked on the development of the dynamic sequences of asanas. Surya Namaskar at the time was not yet the part of yoga. 1933: Thirumalai Krishnamacharya opens Yogashala – room where he would teach yoga to the princes of Mysore Palace. Krishnamacharya (1888-1989) devoted his life to the study of philosophy, the Vedas, yoga, mathematics, grammar, ayurveda and languages. Krishnamacharya’s father died when he turns 10. He moves to Nysore for learning, where he lives with his grandfather. In college Krishnamacharya demonstrated extraordinary abilities in studying of the subjects, as well as in the disputes with the pundits on philosophical topics. In 16 Krishnamacharya goes on a journey along India to study six darshanas (Philosophies: vasheshika, nyaya, mimamsa, Vedanta, samkhya and yoga). During this period Krishnamacharya studied logic, grammar and Tarka(philosophical debates) from the best guru in India at that time. In one of debates the young student wins outstanding scientist. Because of it Raja settles Krishnamacharya in his palace in Binares for 11 years. Also there Krishnamacharya passed excellent the exam in samkhya philosophy and yoga and attracts the attention of many scientists to his talents.

  Young yoga cause in Shimla vylelchit vitseroya (governor Immer) suffering from diabetes. Krishnamacharya successfully cope with the task. Healed vitseroy writes savior permission to visit Tibet and provides all the necessary for the entire period. The seven and a half years Krishnamacharya spends in Tibet, studying the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, asana, pranayama, and therapeutic yoga. After training Krishnamacharya returned to Varanasi and married to words of his guru. In … years, in order to popularize yoga, Krishnamacharya conducts numerous public demonstrations where he stops his pulse, lift weights with his teeth, stops the machine hands, shows incredible postures. Krishnamacharya in 1931 to lecture at the Palace Maharaja of Mysore. Maharaj appreciates performances Krishnamachari, and after a personal interview, offers yoga osnavat hall for yoga at the palace. BKS Ayerngar sent to Mysore to live with the wife’s brother Krishnamacharya. After much begging Krishnamacharya can learnIyengar yogo in his chalet. At this time they are joined by Pattabhi Jois, who went home with two rupees in his pocket and a wild desire to learn yoga. Swami Kuvalayananda issues guidance on the practice of yoga “Yogik Vyayam Singh”, which later fell into the hands of Krishnamacharya. Yoga is still forming Krishnamacharya. Ramesh Balsekar already heavily pokulyarny athlete, who studied in Britain under British bodybuilder Woodford published a book with the flow line illustrations of asanas and athletic poses. The book is full of glamor and nude photos with subtext: to be like me, do asanas and suryanamaskar. On the whole 1920 – 1940 was held at the national way of the formation of physical culture of India. The movement led by prominent builders of India: Yogendra, Yogananda (the same Kriya Yoga, the former until the sannyas successful bodybuilder), Rao, Ghosh, Ayer Balsekar, Hari Ram, Pratindhi, Girvan and others. On the other hand there are far more esoteric naprvleniya physical andmental practices: harmonic Delsarte gymnastics and gymnastics with an emphasis on pranayama and kalisteniku. Also in the U.S. and Britain yoga frequently end up on the covers of magazines and published in the form of a guide, a la my way to lose weight or X poses for a beautiful figure. Add to everything listed erotic printed with illustrations of different yoga poses – and get a wave of popularization of yoga in the West. Yoga asanas are not only elements fizmkultury and aesthetic object and art of the new century. Iyengar Yoga Deepika published a book in which we find the acrobatic pose from the book Anatomy of an acrobat (1889), as well as some of the harmonic ginasticheskie exercise gym. Iyengar obviously borrowed previously unseen in the yoga poses from the acrobatic school of the late 19th century and the other guides, gymnastics, gymnastics, body building, and so on. The next 50 years will turn into an advanced yoga technique of body and mind. Synthesis razgoobraznyh areas ofphysical, spiritual, meditative, religious, dance, martial practices would lead to all sorts of new techniques, systems, training the body and mind, the development of psychic abilities. Yoga penetrated into every home, in the media, will be an integral aspect of the life of billions of people in one form or another. The development of yoga continues today, now. What yoga will be for future generations depend on us.