Asanas

Asana is a very powerful tool for human life. Human mind keeps moving from past to future, regret and anger to anxiety and fear, happiness to sorrow. It is ‘Yoga asana’ that enables us to maintain equanimity. Yoga asana is not a mere workout or exercise. It is a revival method to human life.

It is said in Patanjali Yoga Sutra” as “Sthira Sukham Asanam”–which means Yoga asana is a balance of effort and ease. We give effort to get into the posture and then we relax. In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, asana is defined as a “steady, comfortable posture.” The sutras do not specify any particular poses, but require simply that in practicing asanas, a position which is both steady and comfortable should always be sought. Yoga asana brings that balance in every aspect of our life. It teaches us to put effort and then let go, get detached from the result. Yoga asana increases our physical strength and flexibility and expands our mind.

Yoga has to be done with the breath, and with awareness. When we lift our hands for any kind of posture, first we become aware of the arm and then we slowly lift it, synchronized with the breath. The key is to stretch a little more, in each asana, than what we are comfortable and then relax and let go. This little effort to take the body beyond its agreeable limit and expands our mind. Asana is traditionally defined as a “comfortable seat” that is the seated posture used for meditation. More typically now in yoga, the term is used for any physical posture of Hatha yoga. It is the third limb of Patanjali’s eightfold path of ashtanga, following after the yamas and niyamas.

Asana practice is considered important by yogis because it helps to keep the physical body healthy. Given that the body is the vehicle for the spirit, looking after the physical body is important for spiritual development. Practicing asanas can also have a range of emotional and energetic benefits, increase discipline and concentration, and ready the mind for meditation.

There have been described different numbers of asanas. The Lord Shiva, taught about classic of 84 asanas of Hatha yoga. The first four asanas among these are considered necessary to achieve spiritual perfection. These are Siddhasana, Padmasana, Bhadrasana and Simhasana. Lord Shiva the first guru og Yoga, who taught Yoga to Goddes Parvati according to the Hindu religion.

It has been said that there are an infinite number of possible asanas, or as many asanas as there are beings. It is recommended that asanas are practiced with an empty stomach and without using excessive force or pressure. Asanas can be combined with pranayama practice to enhance the benefits of the poses. They should always be practiced with mindful awareness, uniting the body, mind and breath. Specific asanas can be practiced to help alleviate specific health problems or physical issues.

There are many benefits of asana practice in general. Asanas help increase flexibility and strength. They stimulate all of the physiological systems of the body, including the circulatory, immune and digestive systems. They help develop the mindfulness and focus needed for meditation. On a more subtle level, they are said to stimulate the energetic body, opening the chakras and the nadis.

Let us discuss some of the most common yoga poses.