Yoga: History and Tradition

Approximate outline of the History of Yoga

“Long before the word yoga acquired its customary meaning of spirituality or spiritual discipl ine , the sages of India had developed a body of knowledge and techniques that aimed at the transformation and transcendence of ordinary consciousness. This stock of ideas and practices formed the matrix out of which grew the complex historical phenomenon that later came to be cal led Yoga.”

-The Yoga Tradition, Georg Feuerstein, PH.D.

Big Picture

Indus River Valley

Usually dated between 3300 BCE and 1900 BCE (Bronze Age)

Pre-Vedic India

Pre-Vedic6500 – 4500 B.C.E.

PART 1 : Vedic Age4500 – 2500 BCE

The Vedas4500 BCE - 2000 BCE

Vedas - written by Rishis, or “divinely inspired seers” or sages

Presents a loose structure of ideas and practices that become a seed to what is now known as “Yoga”

4 Vedic texts become the central texts of India covering ritual, sacrifice, mantra and devotion

These are Rig Veda, Atharva-Veda, Yajur Veda and Sama Veda

Origin of the Vedas

Mehrgarh and the Sarasvati River Civilization

The fertile region surrounding the Sarasvati River provided became the location Neolithic nomads would settle down and become what we know as the Vedic people. Social and cultural elements become established creating the groundwork for a self-identifying community.

Eventually, over the course of 100’s of years, the Sarasvati River dries up resulting from a geologic phenomenon causing the Vedic people to migrate to the banks of the Ganges.

This was a tremulous period causing serious cultural shifts to take place including the formation of a priestly order.

Sacrificial Mysticism:

The Seeds of YogaIn response to chaos, 2 practices materialized

Ritualized Shamanism

Tapas practices on one side and

Sacrifice

The essence of Vedic yoga is in Sacrifice.

Sacrifice in its original sense did not mean “giving up” or “going without”IInstead, sacrifice is an act that makes “Sacred.”

Vedic yoga focused on a practice where the longing one has to experience the divine or sacred

Tapas (austerity)

Personal austerity became the main form of sacrifice when the individual practice of the “forest dwellers” came known as yoga.

Tapas brought merit and attainments, showing that yogic practice was bearing fruit. Tapas was the ”heat “ that cooked out “ the impurities and obstacles” to our experience of God

Tapas (in the Vedas)

A Key element of practice that became a point of emphasis

Tapas is “heat” or “glow” but also of the heat created by trial and tribulation

Asceticism… Explained as the endurance of extremes

Tapas as a practice became a testing of oneself and a testament toward ones spiritual power.

(Later, recognized by Patanjali as one of the three “Kriya-yoga” and in the Niyamas signifies “self-discipline”)

Prana प्रा�ण, prāṇa

Concept of Prana enters the Picture.

For the Vedic people, Prana (or Life Force) was seen as so closely linked to the Divine that understanding it became the basis for union with the Divine and the key to realizing immortality.

Exploration of Prana became the basis for understanding the functions of life – or the ‘Vayus’- as well as the means for the transmigration of the soul from life to life.

Later Prana will

Legacy of Vedas“Middle Way”

Priests performed sacrifice as a “pay-for-service” and Tapas Veins performed austere acts as a way to show spiritual prowess. Both “Outward Expressions”

Rishis respond by traveling a Middle Path… or choosing neither one extreme or another by instead choosing an inwardly moving practice being devoted to discovering inner truth and the chasm between the human and the divine.

Buddhism is understood by some as being born here

Prana (प्रा�ण, prāṇa) “Life Force” or simply “Life”It is the notion of a vital, life-sustaining force of living beings and vital energyIts most subtle material form is the breath, but is also to be found in blood, and its most concentrated form is semen in men and vaginal fluid in women.Prana becomes a central concept in Ayurveda and Yoga where it is believed to flow through nadis, a network of fine subtle channels . Prana was first expounded in the Upanishads, where it is part of the worldly, physical realm, sustaining the body and the mother of thought and thus also of the mind. Prana suffuses all living forms but is not itself the Atman or individual soul. In the Ayurveda, the Sun and sunshine are held to be a source of Prana.

Prana Vayus When the Prana operates in the body, it divides into

five major flows called Vayus.

These 5 Vayus are somewhat like ocean currents, while there are 5 major currents, there may be thousands of smaller currents. The 5 major include Prana Vayu Apana Vayu Samana Udana Vyana

Reversing Prana and Apana Vayu is a significant notion behind the Hatha Yoga practice

5 Vayus Prana Vayu operates from the heart area, and is an upward

flowing energy, having to do with vitalizing life forces.

Apana Vayu operates from the base of the torso, in the rectum area, is a downward flowing energy, and has to do with eliminating or throwing off what is no longer needed.

Samana Vayu operates from the navel area, deals with digestion, and allows the mental discrimination between useful and not useful thoughts.

Udana Vayu operates from the throat and drives exhalation, operating in conjunction with Prana Vayu, which deals with inhalation.

Vyana Vayu operates throughout the whole body, having no particular center, and is a coordinating energy throughout the various systems.

Real quick… Some scholars will say that the Vedic age

ends with the beginning of the Kali-yuga and the war that would later be remembered in the Mahabharata

What is the Kali-yuga?

Upanishads and the Brahmanic Period

2500 – 1000 BCE

Post-Vedic UpanishadsWhile the Vedas are more poetic and mythic and lyrical in nature, the Upanishads are more expository in nature. In addition, the Upanishads begin a new course of thought that is expresses a yearning for “unveiling of the divine”

Upanishads - wisdom learned at the feet of guru ‘or’ good news. Many consider this is the primary source of the Yogic TraditionBrahman priest formalized rituals and create orthodox religion

New concepts include “internalized sacrifice” which provides a basis for what some call “India’s psycho spiritual “ technology

The Pre-Classical or Epic Age

1000 – 100 BCE

The Bhagavad Gita

1000 – 100 BC

The Bhagavad Gita is part of the epic poem the Mahabharata Epic

It’s insertion in the Mahabharata is suspect. Some say it is most likely a later Upanishad.

Focus on selfless actions (Karma Yoga), devotion (Bhakti Yoga), and wisdom (Jnana Yoga)

Jainism and Buddhism

Various interpretations and expositions on the Vedas cause the creation of Jainism and Buddhism Near the end of the Pre-classical age

Circa: 500 BCE …ish

Evolution Through Involution

Classical Yoga through Modern Yoga

Problem = Ignorance (Avidya)

Solution = Freedom

(Moksha)

Problem = Ignorance (Avidya)

Here’s the problem,

1) MisperceptionOur ability to perceive the world is out of wack

2) Misidentification with physical reality (prakriti) rather than

transcendent reality (purusha)

Prakriti is considered illusion or lower level of truth because it is subject to change while Purusha is considered unchanging

Change = TemporaryUnchanging = Eternal

Yogic Puzzle:

Misperception of Reality and Misidentification with Physical Reality

Solution?

Find movement upward and inward.

OM KOSHA CHAKRA ANATOMY AND POSTURES 8-LIMBGROSSAnatomy

Inhale Annamaya Kosha:Food-apparent-sheath

Muladhara: Root Chakra “Primal Instinct” Male - Earth - Red

Rooted Postures: Feet, Legs, Spine (base), large intestine

Yama / Niyama:Foundation

A“Ah”

Swadhisthana: Sacral Chakra “ Creativity or one’s own place Female - Water - Yellow

Hips, Sacrum, Genitals, lower back, genitals, womb, bladder, and kidney

Asana: Dynamic extension from and toward the core

U“Uh?”

Pranamaya Kosha:Air-apparent-sheath

Manipura: Solar Plexus Chakra “Personal Power” “Get up and go”Fire - Male

Navel, Solar Plexus, digestive systemTapas: Sun Salutation, Core Strength, Boat Pose, Warrior poses, twists, passive backbends

Pranayama:Breath restriction;Organization and movement of Prana

Integration

Anahata: Heart Chakra “un-struck” or “unhurt”Air (female)

Heart, upper chest, and upper back: passive chest openers, shoulder stretches, backbends love and appreciate as we practice

Pratyahara: Sense Withdrawal

O“Oh”

Manomaya Kosha: mind-stuff-apparent-sheath

Vishuddha: Throat Chakra “Expression”(male)

Neck, throat, jaw, and mouth, expression actions: Camel, bow, shoulder-stand, bridge, plow

Dharana: Concentration

M“M”

Vijnanamaya kosha: wisdom-apparent-sheath

Ajna: 3rd Eye Chakra “Insight”(female)

Forward folds, postures placing pressure on forehead. Creative, focused, affirmative energy

Dhyana: Meditation

SubtleAnatomy

Silence

Anandamaya Kosha: bliss-apparent-sheath

Sahasrara: “Pure consciousness”White & Male (I suspect union)

Meditation Primary; Postures that confront preconceived notions, fears, and anxieties

Samadhi: Freedom (moska) through

Kosha : Sheathes of Being

A “sheath” is a covering or skin that covers. In the Koshas, these sheathes cover the “True Self” or “Atman”

The Journey Inward

Movement Inward: Awareness is the result our interaction with and experience of the outer world. This awareness can be processed at the different levels of being. The deeper the movement inward the deeper the awareness. These sensations then become something that is either directly experienced or reacted against by the mental body. Our emotions get in the way of our directly experiencing of material reality

Kosha Attributes

The Classical Age100 BCE – 500 CE

(Some will call this the age of Technology)

Samkhya System100 BC - 500 AD

Primary Text: Samkhya Karika written by Ishvara Krishna (circa 350 CE)

Influenced by Buddhist objective to put an end to suffering

Presents a "Realist" philosophy based on reason and logical analysis rather than scripture

Dualist system later criticized and essentially dropped by Tantric and Vedanta non-dual systems

Yoga Sutra of Patanjali

Classic text outlining the Ashtanga of Yoga (Eight Limbs of Yoga)

Considered as part or based upon the dualist system based on the Samkhya System (above) eventually rejected by Tantric and Vedanta philosophers

Yoga Sutras

Patanjali’s “8 Fold Path” promotes a method called Raja Yoga or Ashtanga Yoga.

Movement is from Physical (Prakriti) to Subtle (Purusha)

Post Classical500 – 1000 AD

Advaita Vedanta800 AD

Bridges Gap between the Yoga Sutras “Ashtanga” and and Hatha Yoga

Shankara articulates non-dual philosophy rooted in Vedas

Non-dualist thought later adopted by most later forms of yoga and is shared with Tantra and Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga and Tantra

Toward a contemporary practice

Founding of Hatha Yoga900 AD - 1000

Siddha Yogis

Tantric practitioners seeking enlightenment, immortality and paranormal powers

Natha Yogis Matsyendra and student Goraksha are considered the founders of Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga, In short

Hatha Yoga as preparatory stage of physical purification that the body practices for higher meditation. This practice is called shatkarma.

The word Hatha is a compound of the words “Ha and Tha” meaning sun and moon referring to Prana and Apana, and also to the principal nadis (energy channels) of the subtle body that must be fully operational to attain a state of Dhyana or Samādhi.

Union and Yoga“Hatha” is a compound of the words “Ha” (sun) and Tha” (moon) and refers to the movement of “Prana” and “Apana” as they move through the nadis (energy channels) of the subtle body.

“Ha" refers to the Solar (Pingala) and “Tha” to the Lunar (Ida) Channels (Nadis) within the subtle body.

Thesemust be fully operational to attain a state of Dhyana or Samādhi.

However, when the two components of the word are placed together, "hatha" means "forceful", implying that powerful work must be done to purify the body. Hatha yoga is meant to join together sun or “Shiva” (masculine, active) energy with the moon or “Shakti”(feminine, receptive) energy,

This union produces balance and greater power in an individual.

Tantra

Meaning: Hidden

Associations:Mantra: Chants that bring us to the immediate vibration of the present momentYantra: the use of geometry of visualization of form bringing us into the experience of the present moment

Origin and History Difficult to explain the history of Tantra

Views that are on the boarder line. Represent the language that lies in between different schools of yogic thought

Where an exchange of differing ideas and thought takes place

Practice and experience counts above historical reconciling these thoughts

Hatha Yoga Pradipika1350 AD – 1450 AD

Important early Hatha Yoga text articulating 16 asanas along with information on pranayama, chakras, kundalini, bandhas, kriyas, shakti, nadis and mudras among other topics.

Dedicated to Lord Adinath, a name for Lord Shiva, who is believed to have imparted the secret of Hatha Yoga to his divine consort Parvati

KundaliniAccording to Hindu tradition Kundalini yoga is a pure spiritual science that leads to means awakening of inner knowledge Enlightenment.

Teachings of Hatha Yoga are Tantric

Kundalini is the focus physical and meditative discipline within Hatha Yoga.

The awakening of the Kundalini, the practice associated to the rising of Pranic energy up the Susumna Nadi is the foundation

Prana (प्रा�ण, prāṇa)

Sanskrit for "breath” In Vedantic philosophy, it is the notion of a vital, life-sustaining

force of living beings and vital energy Prana is a central concept in Ayurveda and Yoga where it is

believed to flow through nadis, a network of fine subtle channels .

Its most subtle material form is the breath, but is also to be found in blood, and its most concentrated form is semen in men and vaginal fluid in women.

Pranamaya-kosha is one of the five Koshas or "sheaths" of Being. Prana was first expounded in the Upanishads, where it is part of

the worldly, physical realm, sustaining the body and the mother of thought and thus also of the mind.

Prana suffuses all living forms but is not itself the Atman or individual soul.

In the Ayurveda, the Sun and sunshine are held to be a source of Prana.

Prana Vayus When the Prana operates in the body, it divides into

five major flows called Vayus.

These 5 Vayus are somewhat like ocean currents, while there are 5 major currents, there may be thousands of smaller currents. The 5 major include Prana Vayu Apana Vayu Samana Udana Vyana

Reversing Prana and Apana Vayu is a significant notion behind the Hatha Yoga practice

5 Vayus Prana Vayu operates from the heart area, and is an upward

flowing energy, having to do with vitalizing life forces.

Apana Vayu operates from the base of the torso, in the rectum area, is a downward flowing energy, and has to do with eliminating or throwing off what is no longer needed.

Samana Vayu operates from the navel area, deals with digestion, and allows the mental discrimination between useful and not useful thoughts.

Udana Vayu operates from the throat and drives exhalation, operating in conjunction with Prana Vayu, which deals with inhalation.

Vyana Vayu operates throughout the whole body, having no particular center, and is a coordinating energy throughout the various systems.

The Roll of Vayus in Awakening

Prana Vayu is an upward flowing energy and Apana Vayu is a downward flowing energy.

Reversing Prana and Apana Vayu is a significant notion behind the Hatha Yoga practice

One of the ways of describing the process of intentional Kundalini Awakening is that these two energies are intentionally reversed through a variety of practices.

Reversing the energy causes the Kundalini at the base of the subtle spine to awaken, and to begin to arise.

The Secret of Tantra:The Present Moment

The Secret of Tantra is only secret only because the truth is by nature subtle and elusive

The secret of Tantra, like the secret of yoga, is trapped in an experiential paradox where one’s attention and awareness of experience quickly gives way to theorizing and conceptualizing killing the experiencing itself

The processes of Tantra and deep yoga practice

Caduceus

Together, the Ida and Pingala nadis form the snakes of the caduceus, while Sushumna forms the staff. The snakes intersect at the chakras, as do the nadis described above.

At the ajna chakra, between the eyebrows, there are two petals, one on either side, just as there are two wings at the top of the caduceus.

Susumna:Path of Prana Shakti

Open-nessKundalini in Postures

Chakra

Yoga and The Anatomy of Personal

Evolution

IntroductionA chakra is a plexus of Pranic energy in the

body that expresses our individual consciousness and energy in particular ways distinctive of our individuality. We are familiar with expressions such as a ‘gut feeling,’ an ‘open heart,’ ‘fire in the belly’ and so on, all of which are colloquial expressions of the energy of the chakras.

Our expressions also reflect our recognition that these energies can be ‘open’ – expansive, expressive, inclusive – or ‘closed’ – tight, narrow, self-absorbed. Our maturity and evolution as individuals and as spiritual beings depends upon how much these energies are ‘opened’ as we progress through life, bringing us into higher levels of harmony with the generous, inclusive and expansive energy of the universe, the creative Shakti.

Doug Keller, Refining The Breath

Mental - Emotional Strengths /Blocks of Each Chakra

Crown Chakra

Compassion, at-oneness, seeing self in others, harmonious, peaceful, non-attachment, love,

nonreactive; Spirit: Love

Brow Chakra

Overview, Visualizing, Clarity, Psychic / Subtle awareness of self in others; Spirit: Service

Throat Chakra

Open, clear communication; Creative; Speaking up; Releasing; Breathing life-force, Spirit: Healing

Heart Chakra

Harmony, trust, loving, gentle w/ self and others. Give and receive w/o condition. Flexible w/ loss;

Spirit: Balance

Mental Energy

Will/power/control over self vs. others, beliefs, details, constructive vs. critical. Spirit: Thought

Clarity

Emotional Energy

Emotionally open to new people, ideas & growth. Needs: Boundaries, Trust, Comfort, Intimacy,

attachment. Spirit: Begin / End

Physical Energy

Physical & Financial Needs: Safety, Sexuality. Action Center. Spirit: Grounded-ness

Sahasrara: “The Crown Chakra” may be seen similarly to

the pituitary gland, which secretes hormones to

communicate to the rest of the endocrine system and

connects to the central nervous system via the

hypothalamus.

Ajna: “The Brow Chakra” (also known as the third eye

chakra) is linked to the pineal gland which may inform a

model of its envisioning. The pineal gland is a light

sensitive gland that produces the hormone melatonin,

which regulates sleep and waking up.

Vishuddha: “The Throat Chakra” may be understood as

relating to communication and growth through expression.

This chakra is paralleled to the thyroid, a gland that is

also in the throat and which produces thyroid hormone,

responsible for growth and maturation.

Anahata: “The Heart Chakra” is related to the thymus,

located in the chest. The thymus is an element of the

immune system as well as being part of the endocrine

system. It is the site of maturation of the T cells

responsible for fending off disease and may be adversely

affected by stress.

Manipura: The “Solar Plexus Chakra” is related to the

metabolic and digestive systems. Manipura is believed to

correspond to groups of cells in the pancreas, as well as

the outer adrenal glands and the adrenal cortex. These

play a valuable role in digestion, the conversion of food

matter into energy for the body.

Svadhisthana: “The Sacral Chakra” is located in the

sacrum (hence the name) and is considered to correspond

to the testes or the ovaries that produce the various sex

hormones involved in the reproductive cycle.

Svadhisthana is considered to be related to, more

generally, the genitourinary system and the adrenals.

Muladhara: “The Base Chakra” is related to instinct,

security, survival and basic human potentiality. This centre

is located in the region between the genitals and the anus.

Although no endocrine organ is placed here, it is said to

relate to the gonads and the adrenal medulla, responsible

for the fight-or-flight response when survival is under

threat.

Physical Areas and

Glands

Crown Chakra

Pineal Gland; Hair, Top of Head, CNS (Nerve System)

Brow Chakra

Pituitary and Hypothalamus; eyes, Autonomic Nerve System

Throat Chakra

Thyroid, parathyroid, neck ears, atlas Respiratory System; Colds, sinus allergies

Heart Chakra

Thymus, Heart, Breathing Allergies, Lungs, Blood Pressure, Lymph, Immunity System

Solar Plexus Chakra

Pancreas, Stomach, Liver, Small Intestine, Blood Sugar, Digestion

Spleen Chakra

Blood Sugar; Spleen, Ovaries, Urinary Tract, Uterus; Kidney, Adrenals

Base Root Chakra

Lower Sex / Reproductive System, Tailbone, Legs, Feet.

MULADHARACHAKRA

1st Energy Center – “Action, Speed Chakra”

Anatomy: Perineum, Base of the spine

Color: Red

Element: Earth

Symbol: Square / Cube

Polarity: ( — )

Sound: “LAM”

Instrument: Drum

Sense: Smell

Sense Reception: External Visual Movement

Food: Proteins, Beans, Nuts

Open and Clear:

Physically strong. Healthy sex drive. Grounded wellbeing.

Closed or Clouded:

Base emotions such as anger, resentment, jealousness. Sex w/ personal pleasure as focus. Ungrounded.

SVADDHISANA CHAKRA

2nd Energy Center – “Feeling and Empathy”

Anatomy: Spleen 2 -3 inches below navel

Color: Orange

Element: Water

Symbol: Circle or sphere

Polarity: ( + )

Sound: “VAM”

Instrument: String instruments

Sense: Taste

Sense reception: Feelings, Kinesthetic

Food: Water, Juice, TEA

Healthy, Open, Clear

Emotionally energetic, passionate and warm. Caring with out need for attachment.

Unhealthy, closed or clouded

Emotions such as fear, anxiety manifest as attachment addictions and distrust.

MANIPURA CHAKRA

3rd Energy Center - “Thought, Logic” Chakra

Color - Yellow

Anatomy - Solar Plexus (upper stomach)

Element - Fire

Symbol - Pyramid or Triangle

Polarity - ( — )

Instrument - “RAM” (horn / reed)

Sense - Sight

Receptive Mode - Auditory/digital (hands on)

Food - Complex Carbohydrates, Grains

Healthy & Open

Calm, Clear, confident, flexible

Unhealthy & Closed

Excessive worry, obsessive actions, easily irritated and often complaining

ANAHATA CHAKRA

4th Energy Center – “Care and Compassion” Chakra

Anatomy - Heart (center of chest)

Color - Green

Element - Air

Polarity - ( + )

Symbol - Cross

Note - “YAM” (flute or wind)

Sense - Touch

Reception - Internal Visual

Food - Dark, Leafy, Green Vegetables

Healthy & Open

Calm, trusting, loving, centered, giving, capable of giving and receiving

Unhealthy & Closed

Distrust, closed, guarded, unable to give or receive. Possible resentment.

VISHUDDHACHAKRA

5th Energy Center – “Communicate, Create Chakra”

Anatomy: Mid-Throat, Nose, Mouth, Sinus

Color: Blue

Element: Aether

Symbol: Cup / Chalice

Note: “HAM”

Instrument: Voice

Sense: Hearing

Sense Reception: Audio w/ minor Visual

Food: Raw Fruit (Blue or Black)

Healthy and Open

Clear and capable communication, assertive, creative verbally

Unhealthy and Closed

Lacks ability to express. Guarded. Hesitant to express emotions. Frustrated easily

AJNACHAKRA

6th Energy Center – “Overview, Community” Chakra

Anatomy: 3rd Eye

Element: Thought

Symbol: Star of David

Polarity ( + )

Note: “OM”

Instrument: Creative Vibration, Spanda*

Sense: Intuition

Sense Reception: Overview

Food: Breath, Air, Chlorophyll

Healthy & Open

Mental clarity and insightful. Manifesting intention and desires comes easily

Unhealthy & Closed

Disharmony. Mental fluctuations. Difficult meditating. Muted intuitively. Lacking in Compassion

SAHASRARACHAKRA

7th Energy Center - “Inner Knowledge, Service” Chakra

Color: Violet

Anatomy: Crown

Element: Light

Symbol: Lotus

Note: Silence

Instrument: none

Sense: Oneness

Sense Reception: Knowingness

Food: Sunshine, Juice, Fasting

Healthy & Open

Inner knowingness, serenity, enjoys selfless service.

Unhealthy & Closed

Lacks larger perspective. Lacks Intuition. Unable to care or be compassionate.

Contemporary Yoga

In Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Hatha Yoga is described as relating to Kundalini Yoga. It also explains that the purpose of Hatha Yoga is Raja Yoga.

Thus, we can easily see the relationship of Hatha Yoga and Kundalini Yoga as being parts or aspects of Raja Yoga, which is one of the traditional four paths of Yoga.

Modern Age1700 - Present

Gheranda Samhita 1750 AD

Popular Manual for Hatha Yoga1 of 3 key Hatha Yoga Texts (the other being Hatha Yoga Pradipika and Shiva Samhita the others)

Outlines over 100 practices w/ 32 asanas

Includes an outline for a 7-Fold Yoga 1. Shatkarma for purification 2. Asana for strengthening 3. Mudra for steadying 4. Pratyahara for calming 5. Pranayama for lightness 6. Dhyana for perception 7. Samadhi for isolation

Shiva Samhita 1750 AD

One of 3 Key Hatha Yoga texts (the others being Gheranda Samhita and Hatha Yoga Pradipika)

Combines Advaita Vedanta philosophy with Tantric anatomy and Hatha Yoga practices

Describes Complex physiology,

names 84 different asanas and 11 mudras

Explains abstract philosophy, mudras, tantric practices, and meditation

Shiva Samhita…continued 1750 AD

Emphasizes that even a common householder can practice and benefit from yoga. Describes the four types of aspirants and the importance of the guru

Methods and Obstacles of liberation and philosophical standpoints.

The nadis, the internal fire, and the working of the Jiva.

Describes five specific types of Prana, the four stages of the Yoga, the five elemental visualizations

Introduces esoteric ideas such as: shadow gazing, the internal sound, the esoteric centers and energies in the body, the seven lotuses, the "king of kings of yogas", and a global mantra

Swami Vivekananda1893 AD

Disciple of Sri Ramakrishna 1893 Presented Vedanta and Yoga philosophy at Chicago's Parliament of Religions marking the beginning of American yogaAuthor of Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga key texts describing contemporary yoga tradition

Sri Tirumalai

Krishnamacharya (November 18, 1888 – November 3, 1989)

Indian Yoga teacher, healer and scholar.

His students include: B.K.S. Iyengar, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, the late Indra Devi T.K.V. Desikachar

Srivatsa Ramaswami, A.G. Mohan, and Krishnamacharya’s own sons T.K. Srinivasan, and T.K. Sribhashyam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FYtX7xsXxw&feature=related