Yoga has a rich and developed history, first appearing in human recording texts – though not by name – around 500BCE. The first recording of yoga in text is in the Katha Upinishad, one of the first texts of the core teachings of Vedanta. Vedanta is a spiritual tradition which focuses on self-realization. This is a prime example of how yoga is designed for both the wellness of the body, and the mind.

Yet Yoga’s history may stretch back even further than that. Several seals discovered at the Indus Valley Civilization – an Ancient Indian civilization – depicted human figures in what appeared to be Yoga poses.

This gives yoga a firm place in Indian culture, with a history spanning centuries. It has long been associated with the Hinduism, though it is also found in other religions such as Buddhism and even Islam. The primary reason for yoga in early Indian culture was for meditative purposes.

In the 15th century, Hatha Yoga was introduced to practice and is now one of the most popular yoga branches. Hatha Yoga was one of the first practices to try and unite mental clarification with physical fitness, as it is based on the concept that through physical exertion, mental and spiritual clarity can be achieved. Hatha Yoga is where some of the most recognisable types of postures and positions come from.

It is fair to say that the multitude of people practising yoga in today’s society focus more on the physical rather than the mental aspects, with the religious connection of yoga almost entirely removed. Yet even today, in India where yoga began, it is still a regular part of life for any devout Hindu man. Like anything with such a long and varied history, yoga has moved with the times and is now available to all, for whatever purpose.