TODAY Yoga is one of the most popular/most “spread” movements/activities among people, almost of all ages–there are many reasons:

Historically: the modern trend started at the beginning of the twenty’s century. There were several initiatives to revive the Indian identity and culture, which inspired Krishnamacharya (and his famous disciples, in connection with the Mysore Raj, whose interest it was to train, young village men to become fitter to fight the British Colonialism. But this is by no means the only one; roughly at the same time Swami Kuvalyananda, (Kaivalyadhama) for mainly cultural and scientific reasons, started to refocus on yoga. Sri Aurobindu too, focused on reviving and bringing into mainstream the ideas of yoga. I dare to say, in all cases. one great motivation was to rekindle Indian identity in the struggle and after the Independence from the Colonial power (and no doubt there are others, less prominent figures).

Political: Hence, we could say, in many cases-bringing the ancient way of Yoga into modern times, was at least partly-political motivated; this continues until today, as the present president; of India, installed Yoga Day (21^stJune) through the United Nations…to raise the profile of India in the contemporary world! (pushing aside the previous, indigenous people’s movement of the 21^stJune being World Peace Prayer Day (WPPD).

Physical: The higher profile of modern Yoga caught on in the contemporary societies because we lead more sedentary lives than ever and the human urge to movement needs new outlets.

Economically: The materialistic orientated society of today, caught on quickly that this was a new way to make money! Commercialism got hold of it fast, with all its tools of manipulation!

Stress: The highly stressful, competitive society we live in, as well as the increase in health problems, finds here a way to stress management through relaxation and the movement of energies.

Technological gadgets: The massive use of technological gadgets trains the brain to react to stimulus, rather than to cultivating critical thinking or intuition (heart and mind). The mindset of people alters to a quick, almost automatic response- to “feel good” rather than to solve underlying issues.

Psychologically/spiritual: The technological/materialistic society leaves lives empty of meaning. The human desire to find meaning in life, looks for alternative sources to this, as the influence of traditional values and religions dissolve.

The herd-instinct: And finally, there is a trend to follow what is fashionable and easy. So, we fall into the “copy-cat” syndrome; and look for solutions to a society which has a long tradition of varied meanings and rituals; we can copy-rather than finding our own way to that which we lost.

Even now, or certainly a couple of decades ago, it would have been hard to find in “normal” India a payed for Yoga Class (apart from in the modern “hotspots”). But certainly, people practiced some of the movement in their own lives, by themselves/in family to connect with the Divine (that is the origin of the base of Suryanamaskar). Hence even in our time one of the most influential traditions of Yoga is called: “the Divine Life Society”-the word Yoga does not even appear.

Of course, any of these reasons to practice Yoga might lead a practitioner to seek for the deeper meaning of Yoga.

In the Indian context, always some of the extreme postures… were practised by ascetics; but even so, most advanced practices including the body postures were practiced in monasteries, or in so called Guru-kulas with a few people, who were ready to dive into the subtler levels of Yoga.

I am sure there are many more aspects to this, and as I mentioned, all the above might trigger seeds that lead the individual to “real YOGA.”

There is a clue, even in the much word “asana” to the real meaning of Yoga. “Asana” as the physical exercises are called today, means originally: being still/sitting still/ or even “just being.” It refers to the sitting posture for meditation and pranayama. However, “being”-here is a reference to “being truly human;” meaning not living according to “stimulus and response”, (be it from the society or the own mental conditioning) but living consciously, aware, in the moment–in the infinite interconnected web – that is Life.

So, what was the origin of yoga? For that let us take a quick look “deep into the past,” to the root of YOGA.

Tens of Thousands–and more years ago mankind lived in harmony with nature, they understood themselves, as being One with all of existence, embedded- held by the power that moves everything; which is–what we call divine (Latin for beyond), or on the manifest level: nature.

And so it says in the oldest scripture we have about this (Rig.Veda), i.e. where the word Yoga appears for the first time in writings (loosely translated) “The wise ones yoke/bind the intelligence to the awareness that they belong to the expansive wisest One.”

When the agricultural revolution started, the mindset of people changed and ownership took hold, with it came not just boundaries of properties, but boundaries between people–and with this separation of the person from this understanding of oneness–slowly was lost. The result… the growth of conflict, aggression, greed, manipulation to get what I want etc.

The Rishis, the wise Ones of India (and elsewhere) saw/see this and realised, that all suffering comes basically from this separation. So, they observed and researched the mind, what happened? And how can we bring people back to the understanding, that we are all one–and not just one humanity, but One life, one existence, mutually totally connected; we are not – and cannot exist by ourselves; it is an illusion with terrible consequences. The Rishis, (meaning the Seers) saw this and explored ways how we can turn our minds, re-educate our minds…

This return to the Oneness, to the perception of inclusive-ness, of unity with All they called YOGA.

So, they devised a method of how to get back to that inclusiveness, which is the State: Yoga.

The method, the path unfortunately is also called Yoga… so we get confused. The path is there to widen our perspective to a very different understanding of ourselves, and Life – a way of being, of leading a life for the good of All, motivated by love; resulting in the practice of respect, of giving, of selfless- service for the good of All.

In modern terms we could say a life of truth, of communication and co-operation not of individual wants and wishes. This manifest on the highest level of being, but also as evolution in the manifest world. In our everyday world, it manifests for example as communication, as deep listening to the guidance form within and as co-operation with our fellow living creatures by being open and without expectations-because we know the truth is Oneness–is Unity, is Yoga!

http://www.swami-nitya.com/bio—long-version.html

Hari om