A Brief History of Yoga

Yoga is an ancient system which incorporates numerous strategies for staying healthy and centered. It integrates physical, emotional, mental and spiritual realms of health. Yoga originated over 5,000 years ago in India. It was brought to America more than 100 years ago. The earliest promoters of yoga in the United States were Richard Hittleman and Lillian Folas.

Yoga is very adaptable-and it has had to adapt to changes in society. When yoga was developed 5,000 years ago, our bodies were structurally different and our work tasks were more physically demanding. Chairs, sofas and beds did not exist. People sat and slept on the floor. The use of modern furniture brought about unwanted changes in our physiology. Our hip joints have become tight and our pelvic and our sacrum regions are less flexible. We store more tension in our bodies because we sit for longer periods of time and our circulation slows down. As a consequence of using computers, our neck, shoulder and lower back tension have increased. Inevitably, we suffer the consequences of poor alignment and poor posture.

Modern yogic techniques compensate for damage caused by office work. Since the computer and the chair have become a part of your life that you cannot toss away, yoga is necessary to restore tranquility and balance to your body, mood and mind.

In the 1990's, many individuals have taken the principles of yoga and developed new yogic systems. Balanced Yoga draws from many different systems, with an emphasis on feeling and looking younger. Balanced Yoga focuses on reshaping and redesigning your body by improving and aligning your posture. Balanced Yoga grows your mindfulness and awareness by helping you to feel more focused, centered, energetic and at ease within your mind and body.

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