The History, Types, and

Benefits of Yoga

By Jessie McTrusty, Lindsay Gauger, Kailey Leach

History• There is no clear beginning to yoga.

• Carvings depicting yoga positions were found on stones from the ancient Indus Valley civilization circa 3,000 bc.

Yoga’s Beginnings: Sanskrit

• Sanskrit: Indo-European language of the Vedas

• India’s ancient religions texts

• Teachings transmitted from teacher to student

History of Yoga in the USA:Swami Vivekananda

• Parliament of World Religions

• Chicago in 1893

Paramahansa Yogananda• arrived in Boston in 1920

• settled in Las Angeles in 1925

• started the Self Realization Fellowship

• Wrote The Autobiography of a Yogi

Indra Devi• Russian woman

• “First Lady of Yoga”

• Popularized Hatha yoga in the US

• Opened studios in Hollywood, CA

Selvarajan Yesudian• wrote Sport and Yoga in the 1950s.

• the reason many athletes have incorporated yoga into their workouts

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi• guru of The Beatles• popularized Transcendental Meditation• stems from the same roots as yoga

1960s and 1970s

• Social and political climate• Free spirited individualism• Question and explore values; physically and

materially• Beatle’s visit to India• Aerobics• Celebrities became fans of yoga

Most Popular: Hatha Yoga• “Ha” means sun, “tha” means moon

• Opposites work together

• Balancing the mind and body

Hatha: Important Opposites• Expansion/ Contraction

• Pose/Counterpose

• Dynamic/Static

• Steady/Comfortable

Sun Salutation

HATHA YOGA: benefits• Increase flexibility

• Better muscle tone

• Better posture

• Rid of aches and pains

• Develop inner peace, better attitude

Ashtanga Yoga

• Commonly called “Power Yoga”

• Strength, Flexibility, and Stamina

• Higher ratio of men

Ashtanga yoga: Benefits• Strength, stamina, and flexibility

• Releases tension and anxiety

• Muscle Tone

• Removes bodily toxins through sweat

• Great training for athletes

Bikram Yoga

• More commonly know: “Hot” Yoga

• Torture Chambers, 105 degrees

• 26 posture sequence

Bikram Poses

• Cobra

• Child’s Pose

• Tree Pose

Bikram yoga: Benefits• Increased Vitality

• Weight Loss

• Detoxification

• Increased Mental Clarity

• Reduced Stress

Other Types of Yoga

• Iyengar Yoga

• Prenatal Yoga

• Restorative Yoga

Benefits• Physiological

• Psychological

• Biochemical

Asthma & Yoga • Yoga can be helpful for those who suffer from

asthma.

• Breathing is a main part of yoga.

Yoga Class

Questions?