Geelong’s Gym

I think we’ve pretty much all heard of Yoga, but has anyone ever wondered where it came from?

One of Geelong’s Gym’s pre-eminent Yoga Instructors, Linda Newman, shares with us the evolution of Yoga practice.

Yoga is believed to be a 5,000 year old philosophy which was orally passed on from teacher to student. The Indian sage Patanjali is said to have put this tradition in to writing about 2,000 years ago in his classic work The Yoga Sutras.  The writings give direction concerning all levels of human potential: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. They even provide guidance on personal development that includes standards for ethical and moral conduct.

Hatha yoga, initially created to prepare the body for meditation, is an important part of this process. This technique includes exercises designed to strengthen the body and nervous system, creating a state for a higher level of consciousness. The repertoire consists of postures, movements, breathing and relaxation techniques, which affect every system of the body, bringing about health and well-being.

Yoga is not a religion – however its philosophy has been embraced by religious traditions in India and elsewhere.