Who wrote the Yoga Sutras?
The Yoga Sutras, the foundational text of classical yoga philosophy, are credited to the sage Patanjali, who probably lived sometime between about 200 BCE and 400 CE.
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How many sutras are in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras?
Patanjali's Yoga Sutras contain about 196 short verses, called sutras, organized into four chapters.
What are the eight limbs of yoga?
Patanjali described yoga as an eight-part path, called ashtanga or the "eight limbs." It includes ethics, physical postures, breath control, and meditation.
How did Patanjali define yoga?
Patanjali defined yoga as quieting the restless activity of the mind, not as physical exercise.
Does the Yoga Sutras talk about yoga poses?
Patanjali's Yoga Sutras say very little about physical poses. Only a few verses mention asana, mostly as a steady, comfortable seat for meditation.
Why is Patanjali sometimes shown as half serpent?
According to legend, Patanjali was an incarnation of the cosmic serpent Adishesha, so he's often shown with a human upper body and a serpent's tail.
Did Patanjali write about grammar?
Tradition also credits Patanjali with a famous commentary on Sanskrit grammar, though many scholars think it may have been written by a different person with the same name.
Who translated the Yoga Sutras into Arabic?
The Persian scholar al-Biruni translated the Yoga Sutras into Arabic in the 11th century.
What are the yamas?
The yamas are the five ethical principles that begin Patanjali's path, including ahimsa, or nonviolence.
What are the four chapters of the Yoga Sutras?
Patanjali's Yoga Sutras are divided into four chapters called padas.
What was Swami Vivekananda's birth name?
Swami Vivekananda was born Narendranath Datta in Kolkata in 1863.
What happened at the 1893 Parliament of the World's Religions?
Swami Vivekananda became famous after his 1893 speech at the Parliament of the World's Religions in Chicago, which he opened with the words "Sisters and Brothers of America."
Who was Swami Vivekananda's teacher?
Swami Vivekananda was the leading disciple of the Indian mystic Ramakrishna.
What organization did Vivekananda found?
Swami Vivekananda founded the Ramakrishna Mission in 1897.
What book introduced yoga philosophy to many Westerners?
Swami Vivekananda's 1896 book "Raja Yoga" introduced yoga philosophy to many Western readers.
What is India's National Youth Day?
India celebrates National Youth Day on January 12, Swami Vivekananda's birthday.
How old was Vivekananda when he died?
Swami Vivekananda died in 1902 at age 39.
What is the Vivekananda Rock Memorial?
The Vivekananda Rock Memorial stands on a rock off the southern tip of India where Vivekananda is said to have meditated.
When was the Vedanta Society of New York founded?
Swami Vivekananda founded the Vedanta Society of New York in 1894.
Who was Sister Nivedita?
Sister Nivedita was an Irish-born disciple of Swami Vivekananda.
What book did Steve Jobs have on his iPad?
Paramahansa Yogananda's "Autobiography of a Yogi" was reportedly the only book Steve Jobs downloaded on his iPad, and copies were given to guests at his memorial service.
When did Yogananda come to the US?
Paramahansa Yogananda came to the US in 1920 to speak at a religious conference in Boston.
What organization did Yogananda found?
Paramahansa Yogananda founded the Self-Realization Fellowship in 1920.
What is Kriya Yoga?
Paramahansa Yogananda taught Kriya Yoga, a meditation technique.
Did Yogananda meet a US president?
Paramahansa Yogananda met President Calvin Coolidge at the White House in 1927.
Where are some of Gandhi's ashes in the US?
Some of Mahatma Gandhi's ashes are kept at the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine in Pacific Palisades, California.
Did India honor Yogananda with a stamp?
India issued a stamp honoring Paramahansa Yogananda in 1977.
What was Yogananda's birth name?
Paramahansa Yogananda was born Mukunda Lal Ghosh in 1893.
How long did Yogananda live in America?
Paramahansa Yogananda lived in the US for more than 30 years.
Was "Autobiography of a Yogi" named a top spiritual book?
"Autobiography of a Yogi" was named one of the 100 best spiritual books of the 20th century.
Who is called the father of modern yoga?
Tirumalai Krishnamacharya is often called the "father of modern yoga."
Who were Krishnamacharya's famous students?
Krishnamacharya taught several of the most influential modern yoga teachers, including B.K.S. Iyengar, K. Pattabhi Jois, Indra Devi, and his son T.K.V. Desikachar.
Where did Krishnamacharya teach yoga?
Krishnamacharya ran a yoga school at the Mysore Palace under the support of the Maharaja of Mysore.
Could Krishnamacharya stop his pulse?
Krishnamacharya was known for demonstrations in which he appeared to stop his pulse.
How long did Krishnamacharya live?
Krishnamacharya lived to about 100 years old.
Where did Krishnamacharya study yoga?
Krishnamacharya said he studied yoga for more than seven years with a teacher in the Himalayas.
What is vinyasa?
Krishnamacharya helped develop vinyasa, a style of yoga that links movement with breath.
Was Krishnamacharya also a healer?
Krishnamacharya also practiced Ayurveda, a traditional Indian system of medicine.
What book did Krishnamacharya write in 1934?
Krishnamacharya wrote "Yoga Makaranda" in 1934.
Did Krishnamacharya ever leave India?
Krishnamacharya never left India.
Why did B.K.S. Iyengar start yoga?
B.K.S. Iyengar was a sickly child, and he credited yoga with restoring his health.
What is "Light on Yoga"?
B.K.S. Iyengar's 1966 book "Light on Yoga" became a classic and has been translated into many languages.
Which famous violinist studied with Iyengar?
Violinist Yehudi Menuhin studied yoga with B.K.S. Iyengar and helped bring him to the West.
Why does Iyengar yoga use props?
B.K.S. Iyengar popularized yoga props like blocks, straps, and ropes.
Was Iyengar named one of the world's most influential people?
Time magazine named B.K.S. Iyengar one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2004.
What honor did Iyengar receive in 2014?
B.K.S. Iyengar received the Padma Vibhushan, one of India's highest civilian honors, in 2014.
Who is the Iyengar institute named after?
B.K.S. Iyengar's yoga institute in Pune is named after his wife, Ramamani.
Did Google make a Doodle for Iyengar?
Google honored B.K.S. Iyengar with a Google Doodle in 2015.
How long did B.K.S. Iyengar live?
B.K.S. Iyengar died in 2014 at age 95.
How hard is it to become an Iyengar yoga teacher?
Iyengar yoga teacher certification is known for being rigorous.
Who founded Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga?
K. Pattabhi Jois developed Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga in Mysore, India.
How many series are in Ashtanga yoga?
Ashtanga yoga is organized into six series of poses.
What was Pattabhi Jois's famous saying?
Pattabhi Jois is known for the saying "Practice and all is coming."
What is a Mysore-style class?
In a Mysore-style class, students practice at their own pace while the teacher gives individual help.
Why do Ashtanga students rest on moon days?
Ashtanga students traditionally take rest days on full and new moon days.
When did Pattabhi Jois start studying yoga?
Pattabhi Jois began studying with Krishnamacharya at age 12.
Did Pattabhi Jois teach Sanskrit?
Pattabhi Jois taught at a Sanskrit college.
How did Ashtanga influence power yoga?
Ashtanga yoga influenced the development of power yoga.
Which celebrities practiced Ashtanga yoga?
Celebrities like Madonna and Sting have practiced Ashtanga yoga.
How old was Pattabhi Jois when he died?
Pattabhi Jois died in 2009 at age 93.
Where was Indra Devi born?
Indra Devi was born Eugenie Peterson in Riga, Latvia, in 1899.
Who was Krishnamacharya's first Western female student?
Indra Devi was the first Western woman to study with Krishnamacharya.
Did Krishnamacharya want to teach Indra Devi?
Krishnamacharya at first refused to teach Indra Devi because she was a foreign woman.
Who opened the first yoga school in China?
Indra Devi opened a yoga school in Shanghai in 1939.
Which Hollywood stars studied with Indra Devi?
Indra Devi opened a yoga studio in Hollywood in 1947, and her students included Greta Garbo and Gloria Swanson.
Who was called the First Lady of Yoga?
Indra Devi was known as the "First Lady of Yoga."
Was Indra Devi an actress?
Indra Devi acted in Indian films.
What book did Indra Devi write in 1953?
Indra Devi wrote "Forever Young, Forever Healthy" in 1953.
How long did Indra Devi live?
Indra Devi died in Buenos Aires in 2002 at age 102.
Is there an Indra Devi Foundation?
The Indra Devi Foundation is in Argentina.
What was Swami Sivananda's job before becoming a yogi?
Before becoming a monk, Swami Sivananda worked as a doctor in Malaya.
What is the Divine Life Society?
Swami Sivananda founded the Divine Life Society in Rishikesh in 1936.
How many books did Swami Sivananda write?
Swami Sivananda wrote more than 200 books.
Which famous teachers were Sivananda's disciples?
Swami Sivananda's disciples included Swami Vishnudevananda and Swami Satchidananda.
What was Swami Sivananda's motto?
Swami Sivananda's motto was "Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate, Realize."
When did Swami Sivananda die?
Swami Sivananda died in 1963.
Why is Rishikesh called the yoga capital of the world?
Rishikesh, India, is called the "Yoga Capital of the World."
Who was the "flying swami"?
Swami Vishnudevananda, a disciple of Sivananda, was called the "flying swami" for flying a small plane over borders like the Berlin Wall on peace missions.
How many basic poses are in Sivananda yoga?
Sivananda yoga is built around 12 basic poses.
Did Sivananda run a free clinic?
Swami Sivananda ran a free medical dispensary.
What is Transcendental Meditation?
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi introduced Transcendental Meditation (TM).
Did the Beatles study with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi?
The Beatles studied meditation with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in Rishikesh in 1968 and wrote many songs there.
Where is Maharishi International University?
Maharishi International University is in Fairfield, Iowa.
What is yogic flying?
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's followers practice "yogic flying," a form of cross-legged hopping.
What did Maharishi Mahesh Yogi study in college?
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi studied physics.
Can you visit the Beatles Ashram?
The Beatles Ashram in Rishikesh opened to the public in 2015.
Which filmmaker promotes Transcendental Meditation?
Filmmaker David Lynch started a foundation that promotes Transcendental Meditation.
What was the Natural Law Party?
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's followers founded the Natural Law Party in 1992.
Where did Maharishi Mahesh Yogi die?
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi died in the Netherlands in 2008.
Who was Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's teacher?
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was a disciple of Swami Brahmananda Saraswati.
Which yogi opened Woodstock?
Swami Satchidananda gave the opening speech at the Woodstock music festival in 1969.
What is Integral Yoga?
Swami Satchidananda founded Integral Yoga.
What is Yogaville?
Swami Satchidananda founded Yogaville in Virginia, home of the LOTUS shrine.
Who was Swami Satchidananda's teacher?
Swami Satchidananda was a disciple of Swami Sivananda.
Did Swami Satchidananda translate the Yoga Sutras?
Swami Satchidananda published a widely read translation and commentary on the Yoga Sutras.
How did Satchidananda influence heart health programs?
Swami Satchidananda's teachings influenced Dr. Dean Ornish's heart disease program.
Who brought Swami Satchidananda to the US?
Swami Satchidananda came to the US in 1966 with artist Peter Max.
When did Swami Satchidananda become a US citizen?
Swami Satchidananda became a US citizen in 1976.
When did Swami Satchidananda die?
Swami Satchidananda died in India in 2002.
What was Swami Satchidananda's motto?
Swami Satchidananda's motto was "Truth is one, paths are many."
Who founded the Nath tradition?
Gorakhnath, who lived around the 11th century, is regarded as a founder of the Nath yogi tradition.
How is Gorakhnath linked to hatha yoga?
Gorakhnath is closely associated with the development of hatha yoga.
Which Indian city is named after Gorakhnath?
The city of Gorakhpur in India is named after Gorakhnath.
Are Gurkha soldiers named after Gorakhnath?
The Gorkha region of Nepal, which gave Gurkha soldiers their name, is linked to Gorakhnath.
Who was Gorakhnath's teacher?
Gorakhnath was a disciple of Matsyendranath.
Why are some Nath yogis called "split-ears"?
Some Nath yogis are called "Kanphata," or "split-ear," yogis because they wear large earrings through their ear cartilage.
What is the Hatha Yoga Pradipika?
The "Hatha Yoga Pradipika," a 15th-century hatha yoga text, was written by Svatmarama in Gorakhnath's lineage.
What happens at the Gorakhnath Temple on Makar Sankranti?
A large fair is held at the Gorakhnath Temple on Makar Sankranti, where devotees offer khichdi.
Is Gorakhnath believed to be immortal?
Some legends say Gorakhnath is immortal.
Who leads the Gorakhnath Math today?
Yogi Adityanath, the head of the Gorakhnath Math, has served as chief minister of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
What is Sadhguru's real name?
Sadhguru was born Jagadish Vasudev in Mysore, India, in 1957.
When did Sadhguru found the Isha Foundation?
Sadhguru founded the Isha Foundation in 1992 near Coimbatore, India.
What is the Adiyogi statue?
The 112-foot Adiyogi statue at Sadhguru's Isha Foundation was recognized by Guinness World Records as the largest bust sculpture in the world.
What honor did Sadhguru receive in 2017?
Sadhguru received the Padma Vibhushan in 2017.
What was the Save Soil campaign?
For his 2022 Save Soil campaign, Sadhguru rode a motorcycle across many countries to raise awareness about soil health.
What is Inner Engineering?
Sadhguru's Inner Engineering is a meditation and wellbeing program.
Did Sadhguru have brain surgery?
Sadhguru had emergency brain surgery for bleeding in his brain in 2024.
What was Rally for Rivers?
Sadhguru launched the Rally for Rivers campaign in 2017.
Has Sadhguru spoken at the World Economic Forum?
Sadhguru has spoken at the World Economic Forum.
Was Sadhguru's book a bestseller?
Sadhguru's 2016 book "Inner Engineering" became a New York Times bestseller.