Yoga, a word from the ancient Sanskrit language, is known to have two meanings: union and discipline. Yoga is all about body’s and mind’s discipline and the union of the two. Yoga is a spiritual tradition within the great cultures of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, all native to India. Yoga was developed over five thousand years ago. Yoga is a divine science of life revealed to enlightened sages in Meditation. The earliest evidence of yoga activity was found during excavations at Mohenjodaro in the Indus Valley.

A number of stone sculptures showing figures in yogic postures were found at this site, thought to date from around 300BC. These yogic postures, excavated from the Indus valley resemble Lord Shiva and Parvathi performing various Asanas and practicing meditation. According to mythical tradition, Shiva is said to be the founder of yoga and Paravati the first disciple.

Yoga is first mentioned in the vast collection of scriptures called the Vedas, portions of which date from at least 2500 BC, but it is the Upanishads which form the later part of the Vedas that provide the main foundation of yoga teaching. According to the Indian mythology, two main epics were written one of them being the Mahabharata, by Sage Vyasa which contains the Bhagavad Gita. Lord Vishnu incarnated as Krishna, instructs the warrior Aijuna in Yoga to help him to achieve liberation by fulfilling one’s duties in life.