The History of Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yogis engaged in acts of extreme religious aestheticism, like chaining themselves in place for days at a time or sleeping on beds of nails. Swami Vivekananda traveled the country for five years before deciding his it was his karma to go to the United States and spread an understanding of the Hindu faith. The best place to do that in 1893 was the world's Colombian exposition in Chicago.