The history of Yoga Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The history of Yoga - Essay Example The practice did not take long to gain popularity as within a century it had already become a method of both mental and physical exercise in the Western world. There have also been several researches that have been carried out in an attempt to verify the psychological mechanism of action during yoga practice (De Michelis, 55-60). In addition, there has also been an attempt to use this practice as an alternative and complementary therapeutic intervention for patients suffering with psychological disorders such as schizophrenia, or other as you have chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer or asthma. This paper will however focus on the history of this practice and how it has developed over the years. As mentioned above, yoga was practiced in several ancient cultures and it could be said that it is just as old as civilization. However, physically there is no evidence to support this theory and the earliest archaeological findings of yoga practice dates back to approximately 3000 BC (De Michelis, 55-60). However, some scholars have disapproved this theory and dates yoga back to Shamanism in the Stone Age. These scholars believe it was a key practice in therapeutic intervention during this period. ... The main characteristic features of yoga practice as stated in these readings includes ceremonies and rituals that were performed in order to perform certain actions that were physiologically limited by the mind. In this period, the practice was taught by rishis which were also educators on living a harmonious life. They were presumed to have the gift and ability to foresee past reality to their deep practice of spiritual rituals (Samuel, 12-23). Pre-Classical Yoga This period begins with the formation ofUpanishads, which contain 200 Scriptures (Samuel, 12-23). These describe internal perception of reality that is altered and intensified by one’s dedication to Brahman. There are three main principles that were explained in the Scriptures and they include Brahman, Atman and the interrelation between the two entities (Samuel, 12-23). In addition, the Scriptures give further insight on the teachings of the Vedas. In Buddhism, yoga can be traced back to the sixth century BC. In th is period, Buddha began spreading teachings on the religion and his main emphasis was meditation. Gautama was the first to practice yoga among all Buddhists and was able to gain enlightenment by the time was 35 years old (Samuel, 12-23). Around approximately 500 BC a text known as Bhagavad-Gita was formulated and is considered as the oldest documentation of yoga Scripture. In addition, it does not involve other aspects and is mainly focused on yoga. It emphasizes on activity as a form of being alive and importance of our actions exceeding our egos (Samuel, 12-23). Classical Period This phrase possesses another entity of Yoga known as Yoga Sutra. It is believed to have been written

Is it important for people to have popular culture in daily life Essay

Is it important for people to have popular culture in daily life - Essay Example To emphasize on the consumerist and corrupted fiction that is popular culture, this essay will base its argument on James Harold article, ‘A moral Never-Never Land: Identifying with Tony Soprano’. This article will provide the essay with a counter-argument position to Harold’s reasoning. Harold’s article will assist this essay to provide points on why identifying with popular culture is a moral wrong and not vital to the everyday existence of man. The essay will pick various points against Harold’s final stand while also borrowing ideas from his article on why popular culture is a moral wrong. To further illustrate and prove the moral wrong of popular culture, the essay will use Harold’s examples borrowed from the TV series ‘the Sopranos’. In his article, Harold argues that associating with popular culture, in his instance, ‘the Sopranos’, does not affect the general public. He postulates that the show provides a balanced view of the good and bad people that it is impossible for one to get only caught up with the show’s protagonist Tony Soprano. He notes that the show’s other main characters such as Jeniffer Melfi provide the audience with a point of view that holds a different view from Tony’s violence filled life. In his article, the author bases it around the moral aspect of popular culture. Due to its consumerist nature, popular culture mostly tends to be sensationalist and in effect end up holding no moral ground or values. It is for this reason that this essay disputes it necessity to people’s everyday life. The strengths of Harold’s article is that it provides a double view argument on the subject of morality and popular culture. The author provides argument by Pl ato and Tolstoy’s moral criticism of art (Harold, 2011). He uses this countering argument to base his argument that art provides a plethora of perspectives which allow the