The first historical records of Yoga appear around 7th century
BCE India. Sages transmitted teachings orally so no one knows
really when Yoga began. Suffice it to say several millennia ago,
people (mainly men) with few distractions like television and
nuclear families, lots of time on their hands and a deep
connection to Nature started opening their doors of perception.
Yogis explore consciousness, through practices that affect
powerful metabolic and perceptual changes, to experience a more
expanded, unified reality. Yoga uses many different means –
action, devotion, knowledge, meditation - to access and honour
this reality. At the core of all Yoga approaches lies a belief
in one Supreme Consciousness, a deep yearning for a personal
experience of this Consciousness, and liberation from everyday
suffering. Yoga has always manifested in two streams: main and
marginal. Like any social trend, the marginal informed the main;
the main civilised the marginal. The marginal sought
transformation through extreme effort