The Evolution of Yoga in the Modern World

From ancient India, yoga travelled far. In the late 19th century, Swami Vivekananda introduced its philosophy to Western audiences. By the 20th century, teachers like Krishnamacharya, BKS Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois were shaping the physical practices that would become familiar worldwide.

Iyengar emphasised precision and alignment, showing how postures could be therapeutic. Jois developed Ashtanga Vinyasa, dynamic and flowing. Their students carried these teachings abroad, adapting them to new cultures, new lives.

As yoga reached the West, it was sometimes simplified into exercise. Yet beneath the surface, its deeper essence persisted: breath, balance, presence. Today, millions practise yoga in studios and homes, on beaches and in city parks.

What began as an intimate path of self-discovery has become a global tradition, timeless, adaptable, always returning us to ourselves.