10 Facts about Yoga You Need to Know

There are many misconceptions surrounding yoga, a therapeutic discipline that has been practiced for thousands of years. This article takes an in-depth look at the practice, from its origins to proven health benefits.

1. The practice of yoga dates back more than 5,000 years.

The origins of yoga have been traced to an ancient civilization that populated Northern India. India’s oldest sacred texts, the Rig Veda (a collection of songs, rituals, and mantras) contain the first mention of the word yoga. Written in 500 BC, the Bhagavad Gita is renowned for its yogic scriptures.

Over the years, yoga was developed by mystic seers called Rishis and Vedic priests called Brahmans. These practitioners incorporated yoga into their practices and beliefs.

2. Yoga unites many different beliefs and ideas.

In its pre-classical stage, yoga did of a pastiche of different cultures, concepts, and techniques. These elements often contradicted and conflicted with each other. The Classical period is defined by the Yoga Sutras, the first systematic presentation of Raja Yoga.

3. Yoga is more than a workout style.

It is a tool for meditation. While exercise fads come and go, yoga does more than tone muscles and burn calories. It harmonizes the body and mind through powerful stretches, deep breathing, and complete relaxation.

4. The word yoga comes from the Sanskrit language.

It is derived from the word yuj,meaning union or oneness. Yoga describes the union of individual and universal consciousness. Yogis teach that the body is a vehicle for the soul that must be meticulously maintained. Yoga’s main objective is to create balance between the physical body and mind with the prana, or universal life force.

5. Yoga incorporates various different poses called asanas.

Individuals of all ages perform asanas to help keep the body and mind healthy and in balance. The practice aids the removal of toxins, improving circulation and stimulating organs.

Asanas help relieve stress and ease tension. They improve muscle tone, keep the body supple. They also increase one's ability to sit in the same position for long periods of time, aiding effective meditation. Asanas reputedly open energy channels and psychic centers, leading to higher awareness and greater control of one's mind and energy.

6. There are more than 100 different types of yoga today.

While some of these disciplines originate in classic Indian traditions, others are Western interpretations of the practice.

Ashtanga yoga is a fast-paced style with participants practicing a series of poses. Each session begins with sun salutations, a movement that strengthens core muscles. Ashtanga is often described as a “type A” discipline, since it tends to attract competitive, driven individuals.

Bikram yoga is “hot” yoga, both figuratively and literally. Developed by Bikram Choudhury, it is practiced in studios heated to more than 100 degrees. The discipline is ideal for individuals with mobility issues, since heated rooms reduce the risk of injury. However, it is less appropriate for older participants and those less able to thermo-regulate.

Restorative yoga is designed to soothe, relax, and reenergize. Although it is not generally recognized in India, restorative yoga is popular throughout the USA. This slow-paced regime is ideal for older participants, as well as those recovering from injury or illness. Asanas are held for 2-5 minutes and props are frequently used.

7. Yoga relies on breathing awareness and techniques.

Known as pranayama, breath control is integral to yoga. It enables participants to quieten the mind and achieve inner peace. Most of us use only a fraction of our lungs when we breathe, depriving the brain and body of the oxygen necessary to function. Pranayama creates greater awareness, encouraging strong, deep breaths, purging the lungs of stale air and eliminating toxins.

8. Yoga arrived in America in the late 1800s.

Historians attribute Indian mystic Swami Vivekananda with introducing yoga to the people of Chicago, where the discipline was seen as revolutionary. Vivekananda arrived in America in 1893. He spoke at Chicago’s Parliament of the World’s Religions in September of the same year, giving a speech on India and Hinduism, for which he received a two-minute standing ovation.

Swami Vivekananda is widely credited with introducing not only yoga, but Hinduism, to world stage. Touted as one of the Parliament of Religion’s most impressive orators, Vivekananda spent the next two years presenting lectures across America, as well as giving free, private classes in yoga.

9. More than 36 million Americans practice yoga today.

This figure has almost doubled over the last four years.

10. Yoga was originally used as a form of healing.

Teaching followers to look deep within their own psyche, yoga synthesizes various techniques that improve not just physical health, but mental and emotional wellbeing. Over the centuries, yoga has become increasingly popular around the world as a complementary therapy.

The US National Institutes of Health, one of the world’s leading health authorities, reports that yoga can substantially improve quality of life; mitigate mental health problems such as depression, stress, anxiety and insomnia; lower blood pressure; and improve physical fitness and stamina.