The history of yoga can be traced back over 5,000 years to ancient India. The word “yoga” comes from the Sanskrit word “yuj”, which means “to yoke” or “to unite”. In yoga, this refers to the union of the mind, body, and spirit.

The earliest evidence of yoga can be found in the Indus Valley Civilization, which existed from 3300 to 1300 BC. Seals from this civilization depict figures in yoga poses.

Yoga was further developed in the Vedic period (1500 to 500 BC). The Vedas are a collection of sacred texts that contain the earliest teachings on yoga.

The most comprehensive text on yoga is the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, which was written around the 2nd century BC. The Yoga Sutras are a collection of 196 sutras, or aphorisms, that provide a systematic overview of yoga philosophy and practice.

Yoga began to spread outside of India in the 19th century. Swami Vivekananda, an Indian Hindu monk, introduced yoga to the West at the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893.

Yoga continued to grow in popularity in the West in the 20th century. This was due in part to the work of teachers such as B.K.S. Iyengar, who developed a rigorous and systematic approach to yoga, and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who popularized Transcendental Meditation.

Today, yoga is one of the most popular forms of exercise in the world. There are many different styles of yoga, including Hatha yoga, Vinyasa yoga, and Iyengar yoga. Yoga is practiced by people of all ages and fitness levels.

Yoga is more than just a physical practice. It is also a spiritual practice that can help people to connect with their inner selves and to live more fulfilling lives.