Sivananda yoga was brought to the West by Swami Vishnudevanada in 1957. He was sent by his teacher Swami Sivananda with the message the West needs yoga.
With just pennies in his pocket he came and set up the sivananda yoga vedanta centres and ashrams which are now a worldwide organisation spreading the teachings of yoga, and offering worldwide yoga teachers training courses.
The Sanskrit word yoga literally means "union" of the body, mind and spirit. Ancient Yogis had a belief that in order for man to be in harmony with himself and his environment, he has to integrate the body, the mind, and the spirit. The Yogis formulated a way to achieve and maintain this balance and it is done through exercise (postures), breathing, and meditation - the three main Yoga structures.
The 5 Points of Yoga
There are many different aspects of yoga. In order to simplify and clarify the topic, Swami Vishnudevananda summarized the vast science into 5 principles of Yoga which are easy to understand and to include in one's daily life.
These practical points are:
1. (Asanas)
2. (Pranayama)
3. (Savasan)
4. (Vegetarian)
5. (Vedanta and Dhyana)
