Yoga is becoming more and more popular in the western world. Its acceptance has even reached the medical community, which now uses many forms of yoga in conjunction with traditional healing methods. The current yoga phenomenon is made even more interesting with an understanding of the history of yoga.

Yoga can trace its roots to 3000 B.C. Drawings and sketches have been discovered dating from this time depicting yoga poses still used today. Historians and archeologists frequently note yoga as part of many ancient cultures and a traditional method employed by these cultures to heal both mind and body.

The first evidence of yoga points toward yoga being used to bring people together during rituals and ceremonies. It is often perceived that yoga was used as an integral part of many religious ceremonies to bring people together in a mental capacity. This early evidence of yoga is especially prevalent in Hindu cultures.

Yoga becomes historically connected to Buddhism in the 6th century B.C. The early Buddhists saw yoga as a connection between the mind, spirit, and body. The first Buddhist yoga writings date to around 500 B.C. and reference the long unwritten history of yoga in the Buddhist culture. These scriptures, or writings, encourage the use of yoga to find peace within oneself and harmony with the mind and body.

The Yoga Sutra was created in the 2nd century and is considered one of the earliest treatises on yoga. The Yoga Sutra went further than earlier yoga writings to encourage students to use yoga not only for peace of mind but to cleanse the body of negative energy.

Yoga practiced today is very similar to yoga practiced centuries ago. The purpose and intent remain the same. Yoga is performed to cleanse the mind and body, bring harmony to the mind, body, and spirit, and to relieve negative energy.

There are many schools of yoga and many yoga poses that claim to accomplish this mental and physical healing. It is important to research and find the form of yoga that will be most beneficial to you. You will find yoga techniques that focus on meditation, breathing, stretching, and many other aspects of the art. Many yogis include aspects of many different forms of yoga in the classes they teach. The best type of yoga for you will be the one that brings you bodily healing and mental peace.