Pre-Classical Yoga In The 1800s

Yoga has been a constantly evolving practice throughout history but, the recent progression of therapeutic and recreational yoga created a revolutionary lifestyle change for many Americans. The increasing popularity of this type of yoga has created a greater sense of mind, body, and spiritual health in people’s day to day life. With the recent increase in weight, consumption of junk food, and lack of physical exercise many Americans are unhappy with their health and appearance. In yoga they find the benefits are substantial to living a happy and healthy life. The progression of yoga from a religious practice to a recreational and therapeutic activity has benefited human health for the better.

Pre-Classical Yoga began in the Indus-Sarasvati

This period contributed greatly to the geographical spread of yoga. Without this stage the spread of yoga to all the places that advanced it, in the terms of health, would not have been possible. The spread began around the 1800’s and continued into the 1900’s with a common pattern towards the West. According to Timothy Burgin, “This began at the 1893 Parliament of Religions in Chicago, when Swami Vivekananda wowed the attendees with his lectures on yoga and the universality of the world’s religions”. Shortly after the introduction it began to spread. The more people that knew about this popular practice the more it began to advance. People were learning more about its effect on the body and how it benefited the mind and soul. This was only the beginning because, “The importation of yoga to the West still continued at a trickle until Indra Devi opened her yoga studio in Hollywood in 1947” (Burgin, Timothy). Once Indra opened this studio the practice spread like wildfire throughout the city known for acting. Where there are actors there is money and promotion. Where there is promotion there is advancement and