History of Yoga
Who is the Father of Modern Yoga?
Tirumalai Krishnamacharya
(Lived 1888 - 1989)
What is the 2nd limb of Ashtanga Yoga? (in both English and Sanskrit)
Niyamas - Personal Habits
Which Yama means truthfulness? Which number is this?
Satya, second
Which number is Svadhyaya? What does it mean?
Fourth, Self-study
How many chakras are there?
7
Who is Swami Vivekananda, and what is he known for?
Swami Vivekananda introduced Yoga and Vedanta philosophy to the West at the Chicago Parliament of Religions in 1893.
This marked the beginning of Yoga's spread in the United States.
What is the limb that means concentration? Which number is it?
Dharana - 6th Limb
Name one way you practice Asteya.
Example: Not being late to things so that I am not stealing other's time. (answers may vary)
Name one way you practice Santosha.
Ex) It brings me joy to have fresh flowers every week.
Name and point to your 7 chakras.
Root, Sacral, Solar plexis, Heart, Throat, Third Eye, Crown
Who is Indra Devi?
One of the first women students of Krishnamacharya. Brought Yoga to Hollywood in 1940s and popularized by teaching celebrities. Focused on gentler, more accessible yoga
Why are the 8 Limbs of Ashtanga Yoga important? Where did they come from? Why is the order important?
They form a structured path for moving from external behavior to internal awareness and ultimately, liberation.
They provide a complete system, not just physical practice. Starting with ethical foundation (yamas, niyamas), to body preparation (asanas), to energy regulation (pranayama), to sensory control (pratyahara), to mental trainining (dharana, dhyana), to spiritual integration (samadhi).
They come from Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.
The order is intentional because each limb guilds the capacity for the next.
Name all 5 Yamas (in English and Sanskrit)
Ahimsa - Nonviolence
Satya - Truthfulness
Asteya - Non-stealing
Brahmacharya - Moderation
Aparigraha - Non-Attachment
Name all 5 Niyamas (in English and Sanskrit)
Saucha - purity/cleanliness
Santosha - contentment
Tapas - discipline
Svadhyaya - self-study
Ishvara Pranidhana - devotion/surrender
What is the Root Chakra? Name in sanskrit, sound, color, meaning, and poses.
Muladhara. LAM. Red.
Security, safety, abundance, self preservation.
Grounding poses: Tadasana, Malasana
Who is Patanjali, and what is he known for?
What are the 1st, 3rd, and 5th limbs of Ashtanga Yoga (in both Sankrit and English)
Yamas - Ethical Rules
Asana - Physical Postures
Pratyahara - Withdrawal of Senses
Apply one Yama to the learnings of Bhagavad Gita.
Apply one niyama to the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita
Ishvara Pranidhana - surrender to a higher principle
In the Bhagavad Gita - Krishna's teaches Arjuna to dedicate all actions to God.
What is the third eye chakra? Name in sanskrit, sound, color, meaning, and poses.
Ajna. OM
See beyond physical visions, sight.
Asana: Child's pose.
Name 4 students of Krishnamacharya and their contributions to Yoga.
1. Pattabhi Jois - Founded Ashtanga Yoga - dynamic, structured, sequence-based yoga
2. Desikachar - Son of Krishnamacharya, developed Viniyoga - a personalized, therapeutic yoga
3. Indra Devi - One of the first women students of Krishnamacharya. Brought Yoga to Hollywood in 1940s and popularized by teaching celebrities. Focused on gentler, more accessible yoga
4. B. K. S. Iyengar - Founded Iyengar Yoga - known for alignment, precision, and props
Name the 8 limbs of Ashtanga Yoga backwards (in both Sanskrit and English).
Samadhi - Enlightenment
Dhyana - Meditation
Dharana - Concentration
Pratyahara - Withdrawal of Senses
Pranayama - Breath Control
Asana - Physical Postures
Niyamas - Personal Habits
Yamas - Ethical Rules
If telling the truth (Satya) would emotionally harm someone, how would you apply Ahimsa and Satya together? Which takes priority and why?
Ahimsa is foundational. It is the first Yama and treated as the root constraint that shapes all other ethical behavior.
Satya is conditional within Ahimsa. It must be filtered through non-harm.
*cue Truth hurts by Lizzo*
Can tapas (discipline) exist without struggle? Or is resistance an essential component of it?
Bonus points for colors.