The History and Philosophy of Yoga and Movement
Yoga may be a modern-day wellness trend, but its roots stretch back thousands of years. Long before leggings, Instagram poses, and studio memberships, yoga was a profound spiritual and philosophical tradition shaped by generations of seekers. Understanding where it comes from helps us appreciate not just the physical postures we practise today, but the deeper wisdom behind them.
Here’s a look at the rich history and timeless philosophy that continue to shape yoga as we know it.
Yoga’s Ancient Beginnings
The earliest traces of yoga date back over 5,000 years, to the Indus Valley civilisation in what is now India and Pakistan. Archaeologists have discovered seals showing figures seated in meditation-like postures. These early artifacts hint at a culture already exploring breath, focus, and stillness.
But the first substantial written references to yoga appear in the Vedas — ancient sacred texts composed between 1500–1200 BCE. In the Vedas, yoga is described as a disciplined practice for spiritual insight, ritual, and union with the divine. It was less about physical movement and more about mental clarity and devotional practice.
The Upanishads: Yoga as Inner Journey
Between 800–500 BCE, the Upanishads expanded yoga into a deeper philosophical system. These texts explored ideas such as:
The nature of the self (Atman)
The universal consciousness (Brahman)
Meditation as a path to liberation
The importance of self-inquiry
Yoga became a framework for understanding the mind and the true nature of existence — themes still central to modern practice.
The Bhagavad Gita: A Guide to Living Well
Written around 200 BCE, the Bhagavad Gita remains one of the most widely studied yogic texts today. Rather than a manual of poses, it’s a conversation about how to live a meaningful life.
The Gita explains three major paths of yoga:
Karma Yoga – the yoga of action and service
Bhakti Yoga – the yoga of devotion
Jnana Yoga – the yoga of knowledge and wisdom
It teaches that yoga is not something separate from daily life — it’s woven into how we act, think, love, and show up in the world.
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras: The Eight-Limbed Path
Around 200 CE, the sage Patanjali organised centuries of yogic thought into a concise text called the Yoga Sutras. This became the foundation for classical yoga philosophy.
Patanjali’s most famous contribution is the Eight-Limb Path, which outlines the journey of yoga as:
Yama – ethical behaviour
Niyama – personal discipline
Asana – physical postures
Pranayama – breath control
Pratyahara – withdrawal of the senses
Dharana – concentration
Dhyana – meditation
Samadhi – a state of oneness or deep absorption
Notably, asana (the postures we often associate with yoga today) was originally just one small part of a much broader system.
Hatha Yoga: Where the Physical Practice Blossomed
By the Middle Ages, yoga began to evolve into the more body-focused practices we recognise today. Hatha Yoga emerged around the 10th–11th century, with texts like the Hatha Yoga Pradipika outlining physical postures, breathwork, cleansing techniques, and ways to prepare the body for meditation.
This period marked the beginning of:
Strength-building asanas
Breath practices (pranayama)
Energetic practices such as bandhas and mudras
Hatha Yoga sought to balance the body and mind to create a strong foundation for deeper spiritual work.
Yoga’s Journey to the West
Yoga began spreading globally in the late 19th and early 20th centuries through teachers such as:
Swami Vivekananda
T. Krishnamacharya
B.K.S. Iyengar
Pattabhi Jois
Indra Devi
These pioneers introduced yoga as both a physical and philosophical practice. By the 1960s and 70s, yoga had taken root in the West, evolving into various styles such as Vinyasa, Iyengar Yoga, Ashtanga, Kundalini, and more recently, restorative and yin practices.
Modern Yoga: A Blend of Old and New
Today, yoga is a global phenomenon practised by millions. While the modern form often emphasises movement, strength, and flexibility, its heart still lies in the same philosophical principles that guided ancient practitioners:
Awareness
Mindfulness
Compassion
Discipline
Self-discovery
Whether someone attends yoga for stress relief, fitness, or spiritual curiosity, they are tapping into a tradition shaped by thousands of years of human exploration.
Why Philosophy Still Matters
Understanding yoga’s history and philosophy enriches the practice in meaningful ways:
It deepens our respect for the tradition.
It reminds us that yoga is more than a workout.
It helps us approach the mat with intention rather than performance.
It opens the door to personal transformation.
Yoga is ultimately about connection — to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us.
In the End, Yoga Is a Living Tradition
The beauty of yoga is that it continues to evolve while staying rooted in ancient wisdom. When we roll out our mats, focus on the breath, or take a quiet moment during a busy day, we participate in a tradition far older and deeper than we often realise.
Yoga is history, philosophy, and practice — all woven together in a way that continues to bring balance, clarity, and calm to modern life.
