Considering yoga teacher training? Learn the 7 essential factors to evaluate when choosing a program, from credentials and curriculum to post-graduation support.

In the hushed moments before your meditation begins or in the conscious breath that initiates your asana practice, you're participating in a cosmic dance that yogic philosophy calls the interplay of Purusha and Prakriti. These fundamental concepts from Samkhya philosophy—one of yoga's oldest philosophical systems—offer profound insights into our existence and provide a framework for understanding our yoga practice on a deeper level.

When the ancient yogis developed practices to calm the mind and energize the body, they didn't have MRI machines or knowledge of neurotransmitters. Yet somehow, they created a sophisticated system that modern science now confirms directly influences our nervous system in profound and healing ways.

The earliest yoga texts mention very few postures, primarily seated positions for meditation and pranayama. It wasn't until the medieval period and later that yoga began to incorporate more dynamic and varied postures—influenced by various factors including martial arts, gymnastics, and regional movement practices.