The Journey of Yoga- Exploring Its Ancient Roots and Evolution Over Time

Where Yoga Began

Yoga’s roots run deep in ancient India. Most historians agree—the Indian subcontinent is where it all started. Back then, yoga was woven into daily life, tied to religion, philosophy, and spiritual searching. It didn’t just spring from one person’s mind. Instead, yoga grew out of centuries of meditation, trial and error, and shared human experience. These days, you’ll find people practicing yoga all over the world.

In early Indian society, people asked big questions: Who am I? Why am I here? How do I break free from suffering? Yoga became a way to chase down those answers.

Yoga in the Indus Valley

Let’s start with the earliest hints. The Indus Valley Civilization, around 3000–2500 BCE, gives us some of the first clues. Archaeologists dug up seals at Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa, showing people sitting in what look like meditative poses. Some researchers call these images ‘Proto-Shiva’ or ‘Pashupati’ figures.

You can see them sitting cross-legged, almost like today’s lotus posture. Not everyone agrees on what these images mean, but they point to the idea that people were already experimenting with meditation and body postures way back then.

Yoga and the Vedic Age

Fast forward to the Vedic period, roughly 1500–500 BCE. This is when the Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda came together. You won’t see the word ‘yoga’ popping up all the time in these texts, but the ideas are there. Meditation (dhyana), self-discipline, and the practice of penance (tapas) show up again and again.

Vedic sages believed you could reach a higher state of mind by training your thoughts and senses. That idea became the foundation for yogic philosophy.

The Upanishads: Yoga Gets Deep

The Upanishads—written between about 800 and 200 BCE—really dig into the philosophy behind yoga. For the first time, these texts talk clearly about the union between the individual soul (Atman) and the universal consciousness (Brahman).

‘Yoga’ literally means union. According to the Upanishads, yoga is the path that brings Atman and Brahman together. Books like the Katha Upanishad and Shvetashvatara Upanishad lay out practical advice on meditation, breathwork, and mastering the senses.

The Bhagavad Gita- Yoga for Everyone

Then comes the Bhagavad Gita, written around 500–200 BCE, which brought yoga to the masses. In this story, Lord Krishna explains to Arjuna that yoga isn’t just one thing—it’s got different paths:

Karma Yoga: Purifying yourself through selfless action

Bhakti Yoga: Surrendering and showing devotion to God

Jnana Yoga: Finding freedom through knowledge and wisdom

The Gita makes it clear—yoga isn’t only about sitting in stillness. Living your life well and doing your duty with intention, that’s yoga too.

Patanjali and the Yoga Sutras- Setting the Rules

Between 200 BCE and 400 CE, the sage Patanjali put yoga into a clear system with his Yoga Sutras. This was a major turning point—yoga became organized and methodical.

Patanjali famously defines yoga as “Yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ,” or, in plain English, yoga is about calming the restless mind.

He breaks yoga down into the Eight Limbs (Ashtanga Yoga)

Yama (ethical rules)

Niyama (personal habits)

Asana (posture)

Pranayama (breath control)

Pratyahara (withdrawing the senses)

Dharana (concentration)

Dhyana (meditation)

Samadhi (complete absorption or union)

This eight-part path still shapes how people practice yoga today.

Hatha Yoga and Medieval Development

Rise of Body-Centered Yoga

Between the 9th and 15th centuries CE, Hatha Yoga developed. During this period, Nath yogis and Tantric practitioners viewed the body as a medium for spiritual advancement.

Hatha Yoga emphasizes:

• Yoga Asanas (postures)

• Pranayama (breath control)

• Mudras and Bandhas (gestures and locks)

• Awakening of Kundalini energy

Detailed descriptions of Hatha Yoga can be found in texts such as the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita, and Shiva Samhita.

Yoga and Buddhist-Jain Influences

Impact of Other Philosophies

The influence of yoga is also evident in Buddhism and Jainism. The Eightfold Path and meditation practices of Buddha show similarities to yogic principles. In Jainism, self-discipline and austerity are considered paths to liberation, aligning closely with the philosophy of yoga.

Modern Expansion of Yoga

Yoga’s Journey to the West

In the 19th and 20th centuries, yoga gained popularity in the Western world through gurus such as Swami Vivekananda, Paramahansa Yogananda, Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, B.K.S. Iyengar, and K. Pattabhi Jois.

During this period, yoga gradually shifted from purely spiritual practice to health- and fitness-oriented exercise.

Finally,,

In summary, yoga originated in ancient India, but its philosophy is universal. From the Indus Valley Civilization to the Vedic period, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Patanjali, and Hatha Yoga, each stage contributed to the development of yoga as a path of self-exploration. Today, yoga is practiced worldwide, yet its primary aim remains the same—to harmonize the mind, body, and soul.

"Did you find this article helpful?"