India had already a very cultured society one or two millennia at least before the Greek awakening around 800 B.C. 

A general perception is of the ancient Greeks  as very physical in their preoccupations and Indians in contrast are  seen as metaphysical beings, hardly interested in material things. 

This was not always the case in India,the native place of Yoga.  Knowledge about body and spirit and methods for perfection of body and spirit did evolve in India from ancient times.

What  stood behind a civilization which produced such characters? Without a great and unique discipline involving a perfect education of body, soul and mind, this would have been impossible.

Physical education was an integral part of the educational curriculum, based on the ancient discipline of Brahmacharya. 

Man can increase his capacity as a receptacle of this energy. By the discipline of Brahmacharya, by his burning aspiration for the knowledge of Brahman, by control over desires and passions, by a receptive state of mind, he can retain and even largely increase energy in his soul, brain and body.

Even in the ancient texts, the Vedas and Upanishads, the body, far from being regarded by spiritual seekers as an obstacle, something to be discarded, was considered as a receptacle for strength (bala).

Strength was among physical qualities was greatly valued:

May our body become invincible like a rock. (Rig-Veda6.75.12)

Among the large variety of sciences and arts offered to students, three Upavedas, or sciences, were in some way related to the education of the body: the Upaveda of Rigveda, called Ayurveda (the science and art of sustenance, protection and maintenance of long life); the Upaveda of Yajurveda, called Dhanurveda (science dealing with weapons of war and art of warfare); and the Upaveda of Samaveda, called Gandharvaveda (science of music, singing, dancing and dramatics).

 The heroes of India embody not only great qualities of courage and valour but also of physical strength and excellence.

 Here is how Valmiki describes Rama in the opening verses of the Ramayana:

''There is a famous king by the name of Rama, born in the line of great Ikshwaku. He is of subdued sense and of exceeding might.  He has high and broad shoulders, well-formed head, graceful forehead, strongest jaws, and deeply embedded collar bones. His eyes are large, and his colour is of soft lustrous green. He is neither too tall, nor very short, but well-formed and of symmetrical limbs. This highly beautiful and mighty Rama is supremely intelligent, and of eloquent speech.''

Centuries later,  the poet Kalidasa echoed Valmiki's description:

''Young, with arms long as the pole of the yoke, with sturdy shoulders, with a chest broad as a door panel, and a full broad neck, Raghu was above his father by the excellence of his body, and yet through his modesty he looked smaller.''

 Prince Arjuna described in Vyasa's Mahabharata:

''Without him whose arms are long and symmetrical, and stout and like unto a couple of iron maces and round and marked by the scars of the bow-strings and graced with the bow and sword and other weapons and encircled with golden bracelets and like unto a couple of five-headed snakes, without that tiger among men the sky itself seemeth to be with out the sun.''

Prince Bhima:

''whose body was beautifully proportioned, perfect specimen of manhood with his broad chest, slim waist and narrow hips.''

These heroes are not abstract images, their bodies are praiseworthy as is their commitment to dharma.