India is very much the home of yoga, and for many enthusiastic yogis, it’s the pilgrimage of a lifetime, enjoying the many retreats dotted around the country and really touching base with their spiritual side.
Of course, today yoga is a huge part of many people’s day-to-day life and you’re just as likely to see someone enjoying the benefits of yoga in an addiction treatment centre as you are a yoga studio in the centre of town or in the park. That’s because the benefits are huge and it can improve the likes of concentration and focus as well as reduce stress and anxiety levels.
However, nothing is like yoga in India. We’ve always been intrigued by its past in the country, which is why we delved through history to find five interesting facts about the practice in the Asian country…
Yoga was first mentioned in the Rig Veda
The Rig Veda is one of the oldest religious texts in the world, and it dates back to around 1500 BCE. It contains hymns and mantras that were used in Vedic rituals, and it is also the first known text to mention yoga. The Rig Veda describes yoga as a means of reaching a higher state of consciousness and achieving union with the divine.
The first yoga school was founded in the 2nd century BCE
The first formal yoga school, known as the Yoga Sutras, was founded by the sage Patanjali in the 2nd century BCE. Patanjali’s teachings formed the basis of modern yoga, and his Yoga Sutras are still widely studied and practised today. Patanjali’s system of yoga, known as Ashtanga yoga, consists of eight limbs or steps, including physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation.
Yoga was originally practiced only by men
In ancient India, yoga was originally practised only by men. Women were not allowed to study yoga, as it was believed that they were not strong enough to handle the physical and spiritual demands of the practice. However, over time, women began to practice yoga, and today, there are many female yoga teachers and practitioners in India.
The International Day of Yoga was proposed by India
The International Day of Yoga is celebrated every year on June 21st, and it was proposed by India at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014. The aim of the day is to raise awareness about the benefits of yoga and to promote its practice around the world. Since its inception, the International Day of Yoga has been celebrated in over 190 countries.
The world’s largest yoga gathering takes place in India
Every year, millions of people gather in the northern Indian city of Haridwar for the Kumbh Mela festival, which is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. As part of the festival, a massive yoga session is held, with thousands of people practising yoga together. In 2018, over 100,000 people participated in the yoga session, setting a new Guinness World Record for the largest yoga lesson.
