4 Apr 2021 HYN Himalayan Yoga Academy
Asana is the third limb in Ashtanga Yoga. “Sthiram Sukham Asanam”. Asana is the state of still and happiness. Shiva’s estimated presentation has eighty-four lakh asanas. It is projected on the basis of the eighty-four types of organisms in the world, i.e. the eighty-four vaginas. But even if there are four asanas in daily practice, regular ones are enough.
In today’s world, especially in urban and modern life, more may be needed, but in principle, the meditative posture is sufficient. Asanas are practiced to develop the ability to meditate for long periods. Both asanas and pranayama serve as preparation for meditation. Reaching the state of meditation through concentration leads to Samadhi or Yoga. In Yoga philosophy, only a few meditative asanas are mentioned, highlighting the definition and importance of asanas. Even in the Shiva Samhita, only four asanas are listed.
Meaning of Asana
Asana (Sanskrit: meaning “sitting down”) refers to body positions prescribed in Yoga practice to cultivate physical discipline, improve flexibility, and enable the practitioner to sit in meditation for extended periods. In Yoga terminology, asana refers to both the place where a practitioner sits and the posture in which they sit. In the authoritative Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, asana is described as being “seated in a position that is firm, but relaxed” (P.Y.S. 2:46). Over the centuries, as the repertoire of postures has expanded beyond simple sitting, modern usage now includes variations such as lying on the back, standing on the head, and various other positions. In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali identifies asana as the third limb of the eight limbs of Classical Yoga.
How Yoga Asanas Help Connecting Body and Mind?
The inner journey we travel by the practice of yoga asana begins with the body, body to breath, and breath to energy, energy to mind; mind to spirit. This is like connecting different energy layers of the body.
When asanas are done with proper breathwork (Pranayama), we learn to redirect our pranic energy into the specific shape of the yoga pose. Up to this point, we got control over the body and breath to manipulate energy flow.
Our body is the most visible form of pure consciousness that lies within our Chitta (Chitta in yoga means more about the mind). To experience this consciousness, yoga asanas are like the physical conduit to flow the energy throughout different nadis within the body.
A more spiritual purpose is to quiet the mind, understand one’s true nature, and facilitate the flow of prana to balance the koshas (sheaths) of the physical and metaphysical body. Depending on the level of mastery, an asana practitioner is believed to develop many supernatural abilities. For example, a yogi who masters Mayurasana is said to remain unaffected by poison. Additionally, practicing asanas is often linked to health benefits such as the following:
- Opening and stretching joints and muscles
- Warming the entire muscles and tissues
- Purifying the whole entire body
- Improving muscle flexibility
- Improving tendon strength
- Helping to control blood pressure
- Improving stamina and endurance
- Improving the respiratory and circulatory functions
- Reducing stress, and unnecessary pressure
In the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali suggests that the only requirement for practicing asanas is that it be “steady and comfortable”. The body is held poised, and relaxed, with the practitioner experiencing no discomfort.
When control of the body is mastered, practitioners free themselves from the duality of heat / cold, hunger / satiety, joy / grief, pleasant and unpleasant; Day and night; hard and soft which is the first step toward the unattachment that relieves suffering. This non-dualistic perspective comes from the Samkhya School of the Himalayan Masters.
Listed below are traditional practices for performing asana:
- The stomach should be relatively empty.
- Force or pressure should not be used, and the body should not tremble.
- Follow the breathing rules and awareness physical and spiritual as well.
- Lower the head and other parts of the body slowly; in particular, raised heels should be lowered slowly.
- Apply the rules of Timing, duration, and repetition.
- Control your breathing. The benefits of asanas increase when you perform the specific pranayama suited to the yoga type.
- If the body is stressed, perform Corpse Pose or Child Pose or Makarasana.
- Some claim that asanas, especially inverted poses, are to be avoided during menstruation.
- For yoga practice, nothing is needed, just your body, energy, mind , this universe will be yoga studio and your body is laboratory.
Only one series in Yogasana that is Surya or Chandra Namaskar
One of the common yoga practices is Surya Namaskara, or the Sun Salutation, which worships Surya, the solar power, by concentrating on the Sun for vitalization. The physical practice links twelve asanas in a dynamic sequence. A full round of Surya Namaskara consists of two sets of twelve poses. The first set follows a seven-asana pattern, and the second set follows an eight-asana pattern, with the main difference being that the opposing leg moves first in the second set. The asanas included in the Sun Salutation vary across traditions, and today, Surya-Chandra Namaskara is also practiced.