The post classical period of yoga is an important development in the ancient Indian practice of yoga. It began as a way to make yoga more accessible to different classes and people, as it evolved from the systems of Classical Yoga, which was enabled by the Vedic period and its teachings.
The post-classical period also brought with it a new emphasis on physical postures-asana-and a lessening emphasis on ritualistic and meditative practices. This shift from classical to post-classical yoga meant that many yogis became teachers outside of their traditional Ashrams, which helped spread the practice into areas that had not previously been exposed to traditional yoga styles.
Over time, practitioners began to modify classic styles as well as add in poses unknown during the era in which classical yoga was evolving. This adaptation led to current methods of Hatha, Kripalu, Ashtanga, Iyengar Yoga and Vinyasa Flow being practiced today. Every method has its own approach and allows practitioners to tailor their practice according to their goals and individual needs.
This shift towards a more diverse approach in how we are taught about yoga also involves diverse explanations rooted in many different philosophical paths such as Tantra, Upanishadism and Raja Yoga help us understand it not only from spiritual perspective but based on its physicalism aspects too.
Through constant experimentation by teachers, modern interpretations of ancient texts they have created techniques that integrate all these different systems of thought under one umbrella giving birth to multiple forms we identify with present day yoga.
By including elements from psychology, philosophy and science – Yoga therapy provides healing physically, mentally and emotionally while attempting to reach self-realization or enlightenment ultimately working towards a complete union with the ‘Higher Self’ within each practitioner all while using asana for strength , flexibility and centering guiding us through life’s journey.
Definition and Overview of Post Classical Period of Yoga
The Post-Classical Period of Yoga, or modern yoga, first began in the 19th century as India started to reach out to European countries. The popularization of Yoga reached new heights when Swami Vivekenanda shocased its teachings during the World Religions Conference at Chicago in 1993. Since then, many yoga schools opened up across the world and different aspects of yoga have been explored and expounded upon.
The features of post classical Yoga comprise a non-sectarian philosophy, which means students don’t have to adhere to any specific school or tradition while learning about it. It lays more emphasis on helping its practitioners attain physical well-being along with spiritual enlightenment. The aspect of well being includes health benefits such as physical strength, flexibility, breathing techniques and self awareness which can make us feel better instantly.
This period is characterized by integration of various visionquest style traditions that laid stress on regulating one’s lifestyle in pursuit of an individual’s perfect balance through the practice of yogic poses which originated centuries ago from ancient tantric texts called hatha yoga pradipika.
Apart from this there are several other branches like bhakti yoga which emphasize emotionally connecting with a higher deity; karma yoga promotes social justice by adapting altruistic actions; and jnana yoga which helps students access their inner wisdom for true happiness.
All these paths lead to the same goal – ultimate liberation known as moksha in Hinduism and nirvana in Buddhism.
Examining the Integration of Eastern Values Into Post Classical Yoga
The Post Classical period of yoga was a time in history that saw a shift away from the practice of Eastern values and ideals. It started with the British colonial rule in India, which brought about several changes to the once isolated culture.
This era began to blend several Western influences such as science and technology, along with spirituality. Consequently, this time period saw the emergence of several new forms of yoga that blended aspects of both Eastern and Western practices together.
One example of this integration is “hatha yoga” or also referred to as “meditation yoga”. Hatha yoga combined both physical postures along with philosophy and meditation techniques. These physical postures were designed to promote health benefits either physically or mentally or both. More importantly, hatha yoga incorporates spiritual elements stemming from Hinduism such as mantras and breathing exercises used alongside meditation techniques to facilitate consciousness expansion and inner peace.
Furthermore, Post Classical Yoga also included a system called Raja Yoga which focused more on Patanjali’s eight-limb path – (ashtanga). This form regarded yogic practices as having psychological and spiritual goals while focusing less on iconic posture practice found more prevalently in other styles like Hatha Yoga.
Unlike other forms of yoga which had some direct affiliation toward an established religious system, Raja Yoga found its purpose beyond any religion by delivering comprehensive introspection into abstract concepts like morality, ethics, commitment to life goals and mindfulness – all fundamental teachings still being extolled today in diverse cultures around the globe irrespective of religion or faith.
In conclusion it appears that over time, East was slowly blending with West throughout Post Classical Period of Yoga further evidence that cultural synthesis is not only possible but inevitable when two societies exist side by side for long enough periods sharing ideas back and forth until they reach ultimate understanding and even appreciation each others differences.
Comparison of Classical and Post Classical Philosophies and Practices
The post-classical period of yoga refers to the time frame that followed the medieval period of yoga practice. This post-classical period covers from mid 15th century to the 19th century when modern ideology and reformations began to emerge.
As with any globalization of a culture there were often changes in philosophies, rituals, and practices compared to its classical heritage. The post-classical period has been argued as containing a more eclectic synthesis of philosophies and practices from various sources such as Buddhism, Jainism, Tantra Shaiva along with elements from local Indian folk religions.
Comparing the classical and post classical periods it’s clear that much change was present in terms of practice and philosophy. In terms of practice, hatha yoga became a prominent part of many traditions even though Patanjali’s had neither mentioned nor derived from it. Alongside this, spiritual endeavors such as reclusive lifestyle were no longer regarded as superior than those which engaged with society.
The major textual focus during this time shifted towards works that helped individuals reach God consciousness more efficiently through karma sannyasa which widely contradicted the history purpose or available techniques identified in some ancient texts. Moreover, different techniques for meditation such as visualization came into widespread adoption along with particular hand gestures (mudras) designed for specific mental purposes.
In terms of philosophy, works were developed by authors who exposed inconsistencies between different philosophical stances without forming comprehensive systems like had been done during pre 14th century India where much effort was put into producing foundational texts from differing schools or directions (darshanas).
Most notably Advaita Vedanta rose to popularity over the Bhagvad Gita aligning individuals with the notion that Atma or true self is ‘one with Brahman’ while distancing itself form Samkhya notions that Aatma is individualized entity existing outside creation outreaching concepts originally identified by Patanjali’s Yoga sutras such as soul.
This idea would expand further in theory but not practice due to restrictions found within Indian legal system on freedom of worship up until the English colonization in 19th century India.
Highlighting the Focus on Mind-Body Practices in Post Classical Yoga
The post classical period of yoga, which lasted from around the 11th century to the 19th century, was an era of profound transformation and change. This period marks a great shift from the ascetic practices that were predominant during the earlier Vedic and Pre-Classical yoga eras, and serves as an important milestone in the development of yoga into its modern forms. The post classical period saw a gradual move away from physical practice towards more mental and spiritual realms.
Practices started to focus more on mental states of contemplation, meditation, attentiveness and surrender. Asana practice became less prominent than pranayama (breathwork) and ritualized chanting.
The development of six orthodox schools of philosophy (yoga darshanas), specifically pertaining to yoga practice, represent a culmination point in the history of this period. These generally followed one Chola dynasty’s interpretation of Vedanta philosophy which included references to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras among other texts such as Bhagavad Gita. Scholars began debating philosophical ideas and produced commentaries on ancient scriptures while introducing new ideas that still shaped today’s modern yogic thought.
The strengthening focus on mind-body practices was highly influenced by Tantric Hindusihism which further developed as Yogis such as Goraknath adapted their own Hatha Yoga practices, introducing synchronisation between body postures (asanas), breath control (pranayama) with mantra chanting with chakra visualisation for deeper inner awareness through yogic trance and meditation. This diversity further diversified Hatha yoga allowing for lots of variations in spiritual systems (yogas).
Physical exercises (dyhana) aimed at purifying physical body were used for preparing practitioners for higher level meditations – another unique trademark of post classical yoga practise aiming at sadyha samara or steady union with universal consciousness.
Major Schools Outbreak and Rise of Contemporary Yoga Practices
The Post-Classical Period is a significant era of yoga history when major schools of yoga began to emerge. This period is known for spanning from the 16th century up to the 20th century and has been responsible for bridging ancient teachings and today’s more contemporary forms of yoga.
One of the most influential trends during this time was the rise of haṭha yoga. The word Haṭha stems from a combination of both sanskrit syllables, which translates literally to “sun” and “moon.” These energetic facets represent spiritual masculine (solar) and feminine (lunar) forces that are found within us all.
Hatha aimed to reconcile these two deeply intertwined aspects within oneself through deep breathing meditations as well as physical body control techniques such as postures (asanas). By harmonizing these energies, one could achieve physical, mental, and emotional balance on their path towards spiritual attainment.
Other notable schools began to develop during this era such as the Bhakti Yoga system, which advanced concepts around devotion and purity as its main tenets. It emphasized an individual’s relationship with God or some external higher being using practices such as worshipful singing Srivenkateswara Govinda Namalu complete surrendering known in Sanskirt as prapatti.
The Post Classical Period ultimately brought about revolutionary changes in how yoga has been practiced over time leading to many crucial developments seen in today’s forms of contemporary yoga. It modernized traditional teachings by introducing innovative styles like Vinyasa Flow or Power Yoga while still maintaining classical ideals at its.
Benefits Gained From Practicing Post Classical Yoga
The post classical period of yoga is considered to be a more modern form of yoga as it includes some of the latest forms and techniques of practice compared to the older, traditional forms that had been established. It utilizes contemporary approaches in an effort to create physical, mental and spiritual alignment that will allow one to reach their personal goals in life. Post-classical yoga focuses on skillful alignment, breath awareness and the connection between body and mind.
The post classical period of yoga can involve various forms or styles such as Kundalini, Iyengar, Ashtanga Vinyasa, Power Yoga or even Jivamukti Yoga. Each style has its own unique approach towards creating alignment along with its own unique set of benefits for practitioners.
Some people may prefer a more traditional style such as Hatha or Vinyasa while others may lean towards newer approaches such as Hot Yoga or Acro Yoga which both provide unique physical challenges. Regardless of what style is practiced there are real benefits to be gained from practicing post-classical yoga.
Physically, post-classical yoga encourages increased strength and tone through the use of various poses or ‘asanas’ which help to build muscle and improve flexibility. Certain breathing exercises known as ‘pranayama’ are also implemented in many classes in order to increase lung capacity while aiding relaxation responses within the body.
Practicing post-classicle also helps to promote mindfulness by allowing one’s focus to remain on the movement within each pose which helps reduce stress levels in addition to boosting immunity by way of oxygenation during classes.
Mentally, post-classical practices offer insight into how thoughts manifest into action via various meditation techniques. These types of practices provide silent moments for deep reflection along with cultivating self compassion all while maintaining a proper posture in order to further develop patience and equanimity towards life’s events.
Post-classical yoga also claims spiritual benefits such as cultivating energy through conscious movement upon connecting breath follow emotional states in addition assisting one with developing communication skills between mindbody connection which can help us rise above our inner struggle and become whole again by unifying the energies within us all.
Current Challenges Facing Post Classical Yoga Practitioners
The Post Classical Period of Yoga is a continuation and evolution of ancient yogic practices, focusing more on the physical and psychological aspects while still retaining spiritual core philosophies. We can see this era as an enlargement of the scope of yoga practice in order to make it more accessible to contemporary generations.
One challenge facing Post Classical Yoga practitioners is the abundance of quick-fix products being advertised to gain instant benefits from yoga. These products often lack in quality, provide individuals with incorrect methods, and damage their posture and physical health in the long-term. Therefore, many aspiring yogis are discouraged or put off because they have heard about these ‘instant’ results that are not possible when incorporated into a typical yoga practice.
In addition to that, there is also rising popularity in challenging poses that require significant strength or increased flexibility which can be disheartening for those who are unable to perform them correctly due to lack of skill or natural bodily limitations. Those who attempt such poses risk injury if instructions are not followed carefully and even then accidents can happen, which can deter practitioners from continuing their practice.
This lack of support often leads people to adopting incorrect forms for postures which further hinders progress and discourages them from continuing their practice beyond basic postures.
To combat these current challenges, modern Post Classical Yoga practitioners must focus on maintaining strong emphasis on core values such as breath work whilst encouraging others regarding proper alignment and form so they do not get injured.
Practicing slow breathing techniques together with clear instructions on how to perform each exercise safely will lend support to those just starting out while still allowing them to revel in the feeling of accomplishment having discovered new poses and deepened their skillset at a steady pace without injuries along the way.
Conclusion
The post classical period of yoga ushered in a new age of understanding and integration. By utilizing ancient wisdom, yogic techniques could be far more sophisticated and refined than ever before. Previously, the yogic techniques were built around a rigid set of physical asanas and breathing exercises; now, there was an emphasis on meditation, self-inquiry, and spiritual enlightenment.
The Upanishads and Yoga Sutra provided practitioners with essential knowledge that still resonates today. It is in this period that the core concept of ahimsa (non-harm) was established, giving rise to non-violent practices such as pranayama (breath control), asana (yoga pose), mantra repetition, and meditation practices.
The main teachings of post classical yoga have endured throughout the centuries because they are focused on achieving harmony between body, mind, and soul. By teaching tools for greater awareness with the help of breath work, pranayama exercises help cultivate energy to create balance while mantra repetition helps steady the mind so that it can focus one’s energies with greater clarity.
Asana practice teaches not only physical pose but also an exploration of inner anatomy while also stimulating creative energy that is lost in daily life when we keep moving forward without much time to pause & reflect back on our journey thus far.
All of these practices become vehicles for personal growth as one progresses through their own individual practice or lessons learned through yogic texts like the Upanishads & Bhagavad Gita which provides more advanced spiritual teachings & insights into living a meaningful life where one can find liberation from all sadness & suffering we experience in life.
As modern practitioners continue to look back at this ancient wisdom for guidance on how to apply these teachings into their lives today, they must remember to honor & recognize its vast history with respect & admiration. Through this continued appreciation post classical yoga will never be forgotten or disregarded but rather its timeless principles will remain forever entwined in our collective understanding from which future generations can draw upon for inspiration & understanding as we move further forward into uncharted territories together.
I am passionate about yoga and this is my blog. I have been practicing yoga for over 10 years and teaching for 5. Yoga has transformed my life in so many ways and I love being able to share that with others. My hope is that through this blog, I can help people learn more about yoga, connect with other yogis, and find inspiration to live a healthier, happier life.
