The Roots of Yoga

Yoga is very popular in the Western world. You’ll be able to find a yoga studio in most cities. Classes are packed. Instagram is flooded with yoga influencers in impossible poses. Yoga pants are a multi-billion-dollar industry. But how many of them understand the roots of yoga? How many of them heard about the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, or the philosophical roots of yoga?

Yoga, in its traditional Indian form, is not merely a set of physical postures (asanas). It is a holistic system of personal and spiritual development. Classical texts like the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali outline a comprehensive eightfold path (Ashtanga Yoga), which includes:

• Yama – ethical restraints
• Niyama – self-discipline
• Asana – physical posture
• Pranayama – breath control
• Pratyahara – withdrawal of the senses
• Dharana – concentration
• Dhyana – meditation
• Samadhi – spiritual liberation

These practices are deeply embedded in Indian philosophical systems, which explore questions of consciousness, self, reality, and liberation.

In the Western world, Yoga is practiced everywhere, but the philosophy behind it is not discussed or even acknowledged. When yoga traveled West in the 20th century, it underwent a dramatic transformation. By the time it entered gyms and studios, yoga had been stripped of its philosophical and spiritual roots.

It became a fitness routine, a stress-reduction method, or a trendy lifestyle brand. There’s nothing wrong with adapting ancient traditions to new contexts. But the roots were not adapted, but often erased. Sanskrit terms were discarded or mispronounced. Chanting and philosophy were removed to make classes more “comfortable.” Spiritual teachers from India were sidelined, while Western instructors became the new authorities. In short, yoga was rebranded unconsciously or strategically for a Western audience.

To understand why Indian philosophy hasn’t been embraced, we must revisit colonial history. For centuries, Indian philosophical systems were dismissed by European scholars and colonizers as superstitious, mystical, backward, or irrational. British colonial education systems deliberately replaced Indian intellectual traditions with Western curricula. Macaulay’s infamous “Minute on Indian Education” in 1835 argued that “a single shelf of a good European library was worth the whole native literature of India and Arabia.” This mindset created a lasting inferiority complex around Indian knowledge systems even among Indians. Even today, Western philosophy departments often exclude Indian philosophy entirely, while Greek, Roman, and European traditions are treated as universal.

Yoga was de-Indianized to fit Western tastes. Yoga was detached from its context and repackaged as:

• Secular: Stripped of its spiritual content
• Scientific: Sold through the lens of neuroscience, stress relief, and physical health
• Apolitical: Removed from its cultural and historical identity
• Commercial: Easy to sell in classes, clothes, apps, and retreats

It is cultural appropriation, not just cultural exchange. The form is taken, but the source is ignored. Imagine if Greek philosophy were taught only through motivational quotes on Instagram, with no mention of Socrates or Plato.

In recent years, practitioners have become aware of this disconnect. Indian scholars and yoga teachers are reclaiming the narrative, writing and speaking in global forums. Books, podcasts, and online courses are emerging that honor the depth of Indian traditions. Universities are slowly introducing Indian philosophy as a serious academic discipline. There is a growing hunger among sincere seekers for authentic teachings rooted in ancient wisdom.

It’s time we move from appropriation to appreciation, and from consumption to contemplation. Acknowledge the roots of yoga as Indian Philosophy. Challenge superficial teaching that omits the spiritual depth of the practice. Engage with yoga not just on the mat, but in life as a path to self-realization.

As millions unroll their yoga mats each day, they should also be invited to step into the library of Indian philosophy, where yoga’s true purpose and power reside. Because without the philosophy, yoga is just stretching.

Yoga is far more than flexible bodies. Key benefits are:

• Liberation (Moksha): Freedom from suffering and the cycle of rebirth; realization of the true self.
• Mind Control: Stillness of the mind (chitta vritti nirodha) leads to peace and clarity.
• Inner Peace: Mental balance and equanimity in all situations (samatvam).
• Ethical Living: Develops self-discipline through Yamas (restraints) and Niyamas (observances).
• Purification: Cleanses body and mind through asana, pranayama, and meditation.
• Self-Realization: Helps discover your true nature beyond ego and identity.
• Unity: Connects body, mind, spirit, and unites the individual with universal consciousness.