...Who the first yogi really was is lost in the sands of time, but when we learn the history of Yoga the roots can be traced as long as 5000 years back. The earliest reference to Yoga was found when archeological excavations where made in the Indus valley - the most powerful and influential civilization in the early antique period. This sophisticated culture developed around the Indus river and the long gone Sarasvati river in northern India, on the border towards Pakistan.

Archeological findings from two of the largest cities, Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, revealed (among other things) a portrait of a human being or god meditating in what looks like a Yoga posture. The Rig-Veda work, that describes different Yoga methods, is believed to be derived from the Inus-Sarasvati people and has been dated to 3000 to 5000 B.C.

Yoga as we know it today, is thus the result of a complex evolution that has been going on for at least 5000 years. However, according to most scholars, Yoga can't be recognized as a complete and complex tradition before about 500 B.C.

Vedic Yoga

The oldest written records of Indian culture and yogic activities is found in the Vedas, which are a compilation of hymns and rituals over 3000 years old. The Vedic Yoga, also known as Archaic Yoga, revolves around the thought of reuniting th...more

Yoga in Practice: Excuses for Lack of Practice

... In fact, they recorded past failures and achievements from which we could learn.

As a Yoga practitioner, or Yoga teacher, you have the ability to learn a complete health maintenance system, loaded with archives. The archives of Yoga are so plentiful that none of us will be able to study, digest, and practice it all in one lifetime. We know that knowledge is power, and Yoga will improve our lives exponentially.

In getting back to making excuses: Everyone makes them now and then. Some Yoga practitioners have stated they are too old, too stiff, and too weak to continue practicing with intensity. Most Yoga students, interns, and Yoga teachers, wi...more

How to Stay Motivated in Your Yoga Practice

...p coming.
4)Learn about the specific mental and physical benefits of different yoga postures. The more you understand about how yoga is benefitting you, the more likely you will continue your practice.
5)Write down what you hope to get out of yoga. What would you like to change (i.e. more strength, flexibility, balance, peace of mind, etc). Below your goal write what the date will be in two month. When that date comes, complete the following, Before I started yoga, my body and mind felt; since practicing yoga, my body and mind feel. What a difference. Keep this statement posted somewhere in your home as a reminder of why you started yoga and how it has helped.
6)Whether you take a class or not on a particular day, schedule 15 minutes each day...more

Yoga in Practice - The Organized State of Mind

... act of writing about a perceived solution will more likely result in taking positive action. Rather than, finding a solution, and then forgetting it. The world's greatest inventions required a person to think, write it down, refine the concept, and take positive action toward the objective.

When the mind is in a state of clutter, all of the great ideas, within, are usually forgotten. The solution is to make a daily Yoga appointment with yourself. If you want to start soon, but cannot attend a regular class, set up a five to twenty minute session, to begin with. just a short Yoga session, per day, will result in more organized thinking.

Copyright 2007 - Paul Jerard / Aura Publicationsmore