Yoga is related with the way of life and Heritage of India. In Sanskrit, yoga signifies 'to join together' and depicts an approach to carry on with a solid life. In yoga, the psyche is trained through reflection and the body is adjusted and fortified. It is accepted that yoga started in India around 5,000 years back.
(i) Epic period : Around 6th century B.C. appeared two massive epics; the Ramayana written by Valmiki and the Mahabharata written by Vedvyasa. Various types of yogic practices were used during that period. Bhagavad Gita is perhaps the best known of all yogic scriptures.
(ii) Sutra’s period : The backbone is furnished by Patanjali Yoga Sutra. He was rightly called the father of Yoga, who around 200 B.C, compiled, sythesized, modified, systematised and refined yoga in a metaphysical whole.
(iii) Smriti Period : Smrities were written till about 1000 A.D. During this period, of Smriti literature, we find various change in ideas, beliefs, worship and customs. Pranayam and other purification techniques used to occupy a significant place in every ritual of people.
(iv) Medieval Period : In this period, the two cults i.e., Natha cult and Bhakti cult were very famous. The literature of these cult shows that yoga was very popular in these cults. Hathayoga was evolved and became very famous in the Natha cult. The saints of these periods used to do various yogic practices.
(v) Modem period: Swami Vivekananda made Yoga very popular and continued to spread its knowledge outside India also. Modern men have adopted this oldest science of life as a tool for keeping the systems of the body and mind in good health. Interest in Yoga is again at high pace with good reason. Yoga is the oldest form of personal development in the world, encompassing body, mind and spirit.
The old diviners utilized yoga as a way to investigate the outside and inside world and at last accomplish the learning and insight of Vedas, Shastras and Upanishads which have been passed down to the world. Yoga was advanced by the antiquated Indian Rishis as a down to earth technique for complete physical, mental and profound change of a person.