Yoga's origins trace back thousands of years to ancient India, with references in the Rigveda and further development through the Upanishads, Jainism, and Buddhist traditions. Over centuries, a vast system of postures, breathwork, meditation, and ethical disciplines evolved with the ultimate goal of self-realization and liberation.

For much of its history, yoga was preserved in secluded ashrams and passed down through guru-disciple relationships. It required years of intense, disciplined practice. But with time—and especially in recent decades—those barriers have eroded.

Swami Vivekananda (1863–1902), a disciple of the mystic Ramakrishna, was the first to systematically bring yogic philosophy to the United States. His groundbreaking speech at the 1893 World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago—opening with 'Sisters and brothers of America'—sparked a spiritual awakening that resonated across Western audiences.

Vivekananda didn't present yoga as exotic mysticism. Instead, he framed it as a practical science of the mind. His book Raja Yoga made Eastern practices accessible to Western readers without requiring them to abandon their cultural identities.

He established the Vedanta Society of New York and toured the US extensively between 1893 and 1896. His teachings emphasized the universality of spiritual experience and laid the foundation for yoga's eventual acceptance in Western culture.

Following Vivekananda's groundwork, the next major wave came in the 1960s when The Beatles travelled to India to study with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Their visit brought unprecedented global attention to Eastern spirituality.

Against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and a growing countercultural movement, the Beatles' retreat to Rishikesh helped popularize meditation and yoga among millions.........

© International Business Times