Important moments in yoga history

During this timespan, the first poses were recorded on stone tablets.

Tantra philosophy is the philosophy that the body is a temple and a spiritual vessel. The spiritual way of life that emerges from Tantra philosophies includes women and other members of society that previously had been barred from spiritual ritual. Tantra way of life was the first example of equality in spirituality, and it is the roots for the modern yogi.

In the Indus Valley Civilization, the first records of yoga existing are found.

The ancient texts of the Vedas are the oldest scriptures in the world. They tell of Vedic culture and Vedic yoga as a ritualistic way of life.

A definition of yoga emerges at this time. It is defined as the restraint of the senses, and some of its practices are explained at this time as well.

One of the most important yoga scriptures, the Bhagavad- Gita outlines the ancient principals of yoga, including six of the now eight sutras. The central teaching: do one's duty and expect nothing in return.

The eight yoga sutras are written by Patanjali at this time, and exist today as the core of yoga. These eight sutras are:
 Yama: Universal morality
 Niyama: Personal observances
 Asanas: Body postures
 Pranayama: Breathing exercises, and control of prana
 Pratyahara: Control of the senses
 Dharana: Concentration and cultivating inner perceptual awareness
 Dhyana: Devotion, Meditation on the Divine
 Samadhi: Union with the Divine

The birth of Hatha yoga is the birth of root chakras we relate to today.

"Light on Hatha Yoga" serves as the most complete books on yoga poses to date.

Charles Wilkins, a known English typographer and Orientalist, translates the Bhagvad-Gita into English for the first time, allowing yogic ideals and Indian culture to spread to Europe and America. The Bhagvad-Gita came to influence the transcendentalist movement in the 1800s.