Yoga: History and

Tradition
Approximate outline of the History of Yoga
 Lo n g b e f o re t h e w o rd y o g a
a c q u i re d i t s c u s t o m a r y m e a n i n g o f
spirituality or spiritual discipline,
the sages of India had developed a
body of knowledge and techniques
t h a t a i m e d a t t h e t r a n s f o rm a t i o n
a n d t r a n s c e n d e n c e o f o rd i n a r y
consciousness. This stock of ideas
a n d p r a c t i c e s f o rm e d t h e m a t r i x
o u t o f w h i c h g re w t h e c o m p l ex
historical phenomenon that later
c a m e t o b e c a l l e d Yo g a .
-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-Vedic
6500 4500 B.C.E.
PART 1 : Vedic Age
4500 2500 BCE
 The Vedas
4500 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 100s 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
 Sacrificial Mysticism:
The Seeds of Yoga
In 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
I
Instead, 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
, pra
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
 Prana (
Life Force or simply Life
,
pra)
It is the notion of a vital, life-sustaining force of living
beings and vital energy
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.
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 Upanishads
While 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
Tradition
Brahman priest formalized rituals and create orthodox
religion

New concepts include internalized sacrifice which

provides a basis for what some call Indias 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

Its 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)

Heres the problem,

1) Misperception
Our 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 = Temporary
Unchanging = Eternal
Yogic Puzzle:
Misperception of
Reality and
Misidentification
with Physical
Reality
Solution?
Find movement
upward and
inward.
 OM KOSHA CHAKRA ANATOMY AND POSTURES 8-LIMB
GROSS Inhale Annamaya Muladhara: Root Chakra Rooted Postures: Yama /
Anatomy Kosha: Primal Instinct Feet, Legs, Spine (base), Niyama:
Food- Male - Earth - Red large intestine Foundation
apparent-
sheath

A Swadhisthana: Sacral Hips, Sacrum, Genitals, Asana:

Ah Chakra Creativity or lower back, genitals, Dynamic
ones own place Female - womb, bladder, and extension from
Water - Yellow kidney and toward the
core

U Pranamaya Manipura: Solar Plexus Navel, Solar Plexus, Pranayama:

Uh? Kosha: Chakra Personal Power digestive system Breath
Air-apparent- Get up and go Tapas: Sun Salutation, restriction;
sheath Fire - Male Core Strength, Boat Pose, Organization
Warrior poses, twists, and movement
passive backbends of Prana

Integrati Anahata: Heart Chakra Heart, upper chest, and Pratyahara:

on un-struck or unhurt upper back: passive chest Sense
Air (female) openers, shoulder Withdrawal
stretches, backbends love
and appreciate as we
practice

O Manomaya Vishuddha: Throat Chakra Neck, throat, jaw, and Dharana:

Oh Kosha: mind- Expression mouth, expression actions: Concentration
stuff- (male) Camel, bow, shoulder-
apparent- stand, bridge, plow
sheath
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 Age
100 BCE 500 CE

Some will call this the age of Technology)

Samkhya System
100 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

Patanjalis 8 Fold Path

promotes a method
called Raja Yoga or
Ashtanga Yoga.

Movement is from
Physical (Prakriti) to
Subtle (Purusha)
Post Classical
500 1000 AD
Advaita Vedanta
800 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 Yoga
900 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 Samdhi.
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 Samdhi.

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 moment
Yantra: 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 Pradipika
1350 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
 Kundalini
According 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 (, pra)

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 ones
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.
Path of
Prana
Shakti
Open-ness
Kundalini in
Postures
Chakra

Yoga and The

Anatomy of Personal
ntroduction
A 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

 Crown Chakra
tion Compassion, at-oneness, seeing self in others,
harmonious, peaceful, non-attachment, love,
al nonreactive; Spirit: Love
Brow Chakra
Stre Overview, Visualizing, Clarity, Psychic / Subtle
awareness of self in others; Spirit: Service
ngth Throat Chakra
Open, clear communication; Creative; Speaking up;
s Releasing; Breathing life-force, Spirit: Healing
Heart Chakra
/Blo Harmony, trust, loving, gentle w/ self and others. Give
and receive w/o condition. Flexible w/ loss; Spirit:
cks Balance
Mental Energy
of Will/power/control over self vs. others, beliefs, details,
constructive vs. critical. Spirit: Thought Clarity
Each Emotional Energy

Cha Emotionally open to new people, ideas & growth.

Needs: Boundaries, Trust, Comfort, Intimacy,
attachment. Spirit: Begin / End
kra 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.
 Crown Chakra

Ph Pineal Gland; Hair, Top of Head, CNS

(Nerve System)

ysi Brow Chakra

Pituitary and Hypothalamus; eyes,

cal Autonomic Nerve System

Throat Chakra

Ar Thyroid, parathyroid, neck ears, atlas

Respiratory System; Colds, sinus allergies

ea Heart Chakra

s Thymus, Heart, Breathing Allergies, Lungs,

Blood Pressure, Lymph, Immunity System

an Solar Plexus Chakra

Pancreas, Stomach, Liver, Small Intestine,

d Blood Sugar, Digestion

Spleen Chakra

Gl Blood Sugar; Spleen, Ovaries, Urinary

Tract, Uterus; Kidney, Adrenals

an Base Root Chakra

Lower Sex / Reproductive System,
 MULADHA
RA 1st Energy Center Action, Speed
Chakra
CHAKRA Anatomy: Perineum, Base of the spine

Open and Clear: Color: Red

Physically strong. Element: Earth
Healthy sex drive.
Grounded wellbeing. Symbol: Square / Cube

Polarity: ( )
Closed or Clouded:
Sound: LAM
Base emotions such
as anger, Instrument: Drum
resentment,
Sense: Smell
jealousness. Sex w/
personal pleasure as Sense Reception: External Visual
focus. Ungrounded. Movement

Food: Proteins, Beans, Nuts

 2nd Energy Center Feeling and
SVADDHIS Empathy

ANA Anatomy: Spleen 2 -3 inches below

navel
CHAKRA Color: Orange
Healthy, Open, Clear
Emotionally energetic, Element: Water
passionate and warm.
Symbol: Circle or sphere
Caring with out need
for attachment. Polarity: ( + )

Sound: VAM
Unhealthy, closed or
Instrument: String instruments
clouded
Emotions such as fear, Sense: Taste
anxiety manifest as
Sense reception: Feelings,
attachment addictions
Kinesthetic
and distrust.
Food: Water, Juice, TEA
 MANIPUR 3rd Energy Center - Thought, Logic
Chakra
A Color - Yellow
CHAKRA Anatomy - Solar Plexus (upper
Healthy & Open stomach)

Calm, Clear, Element - Fire

confident, flexible
Symbol - Pyramid or Triangle

Polarity - ( )
Unhealthy &
Closed Instrument - RAM (horn / reed)

Excessive worry, Sense - Sight

obsessive actions,
Receptive Mode - Auditory/digital
easily irritated and (hands on)
often complaining
Food - Complex Carbohydrates, Grains
Healthy & Open
4th Energy Center Care and
Calm, trusting,
ANAHATA
loving,
Compassion Chakra
Anatomy - Heart (center of chest)
CHAKRA
centered,
Color - Green
giving, capable
of giving and Element - Air
receiving Polarity - ( + )
Symbol - Cross

Unhealthy & Note - YAM (flute or wind)

Closed Sense - Touch

Distrust, Reception - Internal Visual

closed, Food - Dark, Leafy, Green Vegetables
guarded,
unable to give
Healthy and
Open 5th Energy Center
Communicate, Create Chakra
VISHUDDHA
Clear and
capable Anatomy: Mid-Throat, Nose, Mouth,
CHAKRA
communication, Sinus
assertive, Color: Blue
creative
Element: Aether
verbally
Symbol: Cup / Chalice
Note: HAM
Unhealthy and
Closed
Instrument: Voice
Sense: Hearing
Lacks ability to
express. Sense Reception: Audio w/ minor
Guarded. Visual
Hesitant to Food: Raw Fruit (Blue or Black)
 6th Energy Center Overview,
Community Chakra
AJNA
Anatomy: 3 Eye
CHAKRA
rd

Element: Thought
Healthy & Open
Mental clarity and Symbol: Star of David
insightful.

Manifesting intention Polarity ( + )
and desires comes
easily Note: OM
Instrument: Creative Vibration,
Unhealthy & Closed Spanda*
Disharmony. Mental

fluctuations. Difficult
Sense: Intuition
meditating. Muted
Sense Reception: Overview
intuitively. Lacking in
Compassion Food: Breath, Air, Chlorophyll
 7th Energy Center - Inner
SAHASRAR

Knowledge, Service Chakra
A Color: Violet

CHAKRA
Healthy & Open
Anatomy: Crown

Inner knowingness, Element: Light

serenity, enjoys
selfless service.
Symbol: Lotus
Note: Silence
Unhealthy & Closed Instrument: none
Lacks larger
perspective. Lacks Sense: Oneness
Intuition. Unable to
care or be
Sense Reception: Knowingness
compassionate. Food: Sunshine, Juice, Fasting
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 Age
1700 - Present
Gheranda Samhita
1750 AD
Popular Manual for Hatha Yoga
1 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 Samhitacontinued
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 Vivekananda
1893 AD
Disciple of Sri Ramakrishna
1893 Presented Vedanta and Yoga philosophy at
Chicago's Parliament of Religions marking the
beginning of American yoga
Author 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
Krishnamacharyas own sons T.K. Srinivasan,
and T.K. Sribhashyam.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FYtX7x
sXxw&feature=
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