Yoga Philosophy & History Quiz

Which ancient religion do the roots of yoga derive from?

Hinduism, Buddhism, & Jainism

Where do the earliest known texts on yoga come from?

The Vedas

What does the word 'Vedas' mean?

Knowledge

What is the sanskrit meaning of the word 'yoga'?

To unite

When were the Vedas estimated to have been written?

1700-1100 BCE

What was the primary tool used to achieve a state of oneness and consciousness according to the Veda texts?

Meditation

What was the primary form of meditation in the Vedas?

Mantra meditation

T/F Cultivating and tapping into your authentic spiritual sensibilities will help guide you whether to bring chanting into your yoga classes.

True

The Upanishads held forth the belief in what two Hindu religious philosophies?

Universal spirit & individual soul

What does the word 'Upanishad' mean?

Sitting down beside

The Bhagavad Gita is also called the ___?

Song of God

Which of the following is not one of the three yogic paths according to the Bhagavad Gita?

Hatha Yoga

What is karma yoga?

Yoga of service

The primary activities of Bhakti yoga include which of the following?

offering prayer, chanting God’s names, meditating on God

In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - what does he explain is the meaning of yoga?

To calm the fluctuations of the mind

What is the definition of Samadhi in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali?

Enlightenment. a blissful state in which one is absorbed with the divine

T/F Many yoga teachers and students are surprised to find the Yoga Sutras do not describe a single asana or pose.

True

T/F The Yoga Sutras include the philosophy of the Eight Limbs of Yoga.

True

Which of the Yamas philosophies describes creating a safe space for students to learn and practice?

Ahimsa

Which of the following Yamas means to be honest with ourselves and others?

Satya

Which of the Yamas applies to helping students achieve an attitude of patience and ease in their yoga practice?

Aparigraha

How many Niyama philosophies are there in the Yoga Sutras?

5

Which of the five Niyamas focus on treating your body as a temple?

Saucha

Grounded in a sense of being greater than our individual selves describes which of the following Niyamas?

Ishvara Pranidhana

Which of the following activities describes the Niyama, Svadhyaya - self-study?

• Pausing from time to time to ask questions about your teaching

• Continuing to deepen your yoga knowledge

• Reading books on spirituality and yoga philosophy

What is the literal translation of the sanskrit word 'asana'?

To take one seat

When we observe the flow of the breath in and out of the body - this is called what?

Pranayama

What is the 8th Limb of Yoga according to the Yoga Sutras?

Samadhi

T/F Tantra is the idea that the universe is an expression of the divine and can be tapped into as a source of divine consciousness.

True