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Origin of yoga can be traced back to the old Indian Vedic scripture called the Rig Veda. Yoga definitely has its roots in ancient India. Probably the yoga postures and poses came into existence twenty six thousand years back. Primitive form of yoga exercise was known as yoga of Kundalini. Six hundred years before Christ, in the Indian Yug of Kali, Patanjili introduced the eight-limb yoga asana.
Yoga is an extension of a word from the Sanskrit language. Historical evidences suggest that people of the Harappan civilization used to practice yoga. Various excavated articles from Indus Valley reveal this truth. Stone sculptures and engravings from these ancient times show different postures of Yoga therapy. The Tantra Yoga, later on became an integral part of old Indian mysticism.
Later on, Aryans adopted and promoted yoga. All ancient Universities of India including the renowned Nalanda and Taxshila universities offered courses in Yoga and regular yoga teachers or yogis were appointed to teach yoga. All ancient Indian emperors used to organize group yoga sessions for their courtesans. Even ancient armies of emperors were compelled to take yoga lessons to keep themselves fit.
Although the origin of yoga took place in India, the practice traveled to China through Chinese travelers who visited India in that period. Famous ancient Indian caves of Ajanta and Ellora depict carvings that resemble yogic poses. To sum up, birth of yoga took place in India and the practice has gone through various phases of near extinction and renaissance. The present age is one, which has seen a tremendous renaissance in the practice of yoga.
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