Where does Yoga Originate?

Surprise it is not from India.

Yoga Actually comes from an early 20th century Danish system

of dynamic exercise called Primitive Gymnastics (source Yoga
Journal, Nov 2010, pp 66, author Mark Singleton, PhD in
Divinity from Cambridge University) which originated from
19th century Scandinavian gymnastics. Can you believe it?
This system of training was used throughout Europe as a
system for training schools and military. The training was
adopted by many of which one country was India.

Hatha (Asana) - the foundation of all yoga, was rarely used in

India. The main focus in India was on pranayama - the breath
expansion as a means to control the mind. Yogi's from India
who migrated to the west in the 19th century rejected Hatha
Asana as a spiritual practice. Instead focusing on thought and
mind activity.

Ultimately, it was eventually believed in India as was in the

West that building better bodies would keep people physically
healthier and strong in the event that protection was needed to
defend the country. Trainers in India disguised as "yoga gurus"
taught strengthening exercises which included wrestling and
gymnastics. As teachers evolved, traditional yogic practices
were combined with the European gymnastics to create Asana what we know as yoga here in the west. Sanskrit names were
provided like "Warrior 1" - Virabhadrasana I.

These same exercises were used in the West as early as 1920's.

Developed by and for women, these exercises were used to
help women spiritual with menopause and other areas of
interest specifically for women. So here, in the west these same

gymnastic type movements were used as spiritual practices,

which included meditation and breath-work long before the
Indian gurus arrived with their spiritual overtones mixed with
the very same movements. Known as "Harmonial Movement"
women such as Genevieve Stebbins and Mary Bagot Stack
strongly influenced the western direction and development of
an Asana based yoga practice.

So, even westerners have a deeper, richer spiritual history than

the sweeping myths surrounding thoughts that lead one to
believe that we need to be more eastern. Yoga in the West is for
the culture in the west, rich in its diversity, heritage, and
expanded global influences - we have cultivated a globally
minded community within our borders. Through our own lens
we should always consider adapting to the environmental
influences of our culture complimented by influences from
outside our community.

Yoga is for everyone and has been collectively created for the
health and wellness of all human beings.

Namaste!

6 Comments to And who brought yoga to the West??:

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And who brought yoga to the West?? on Wednesday, April 06, 2011 3:44 PM
Reply to comment
Amber Shakti on Thursday, December 13, 2012 10:33 AM
Yoga is huge in the west.. Myself personally, I focus more on anatomy, physiology, repair and
restoration. I do teach breath work and relaxation techniques, however, I am not into the
past, the old way of doing things. Where I live outside of Washington DC, it is very multi
cultural and my students are from all over the world in this area. I like the poses, I create my

own, and I believe in the evolution of thought and movement of the human being. I was very
glad to learn the origins of yoga in the West. Women.
Reply to comment
Amber Shakti on Thursday, December 13, 2012 10:35 AM
Yes, Yoga is very healthy for women and I think even more so for men, simply because many
older American men are still stuck on hard core exercise, or non at all. They would rather be
in pain than to take a yoga class. There are some progressive men here, but the bulk of the
people in this industry are women.
Reply to comment
Jump manual on Monday, December 17, 2012 4:51 AM
Amazing blog ! I am really pleased to read this content. You wrote here about the foundation
of yoga which was totally unknown to me before reading this article. I get some good
information about yoga which I wish will help me a lot. Thanks.
Reply to comment
fat loss cure on Monday, February 11, 2013 9:05 AM
Today I've known roots of yoga and India plays an important role of coming yoga to the West.
As well yoga has huge advantages to keep fresh our mind and health. Thanks mate carry on :)
Reply to comment
alvario on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 5:24 PM
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in
it or something. I think that you can do with a few pics to drive the message home a bit, but
instead of that, this is excellent blog. A fantastic read. I'll definitely be back.
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