Medieval hatha yoga texts describe asanas as providing spiritual and physical benefits. More recently, studies have proven that they improve flexibility, strength, and balance, reduce stress and related conditions, and alleviate certain diseases, particularly asthma and diabetes.
Asana
Table of Contents
Asana (Sanskrit: Āsana) is a physical posture, originally a generic term for a stationary, seated meditative pose, and later extended in Haṭha yoga and modern Yoga to any type of positional exercise, including lying, standing inverted, reclining, and balancing postures. Patanjali defines asana in the Yoga Sutras as “a steady and comfortable position.” Patanjali mentions the ability to sit for long periods of time as one of the eight limbs of his tantra. Asanas are also called yoga postures or yoga poses in English.
Asanas originated in India. In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali describes asana as the third of the eight limbs (Sanskrit: ashtanga, ashta, eight, and anga, limb) of classical, or raja yoga. The word asana, used in English since the 19th century, comes from Sanskrit: āsana asana “to sit” (ās asa “to sit”), sitting posture, seat of meditation. A page from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali notes asana The eight limbs are Yama (social code of conduct), Niyama (self-observance), Asana (posture), Pranayama (breathing), Pratyahara (sensory renunciation or detachment), Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditation), and Samadhi (realization of the true self or soul and unity with Brahman, the ultimate reality). The breathing exercises of Asana and Pranayama are the physical exercises of Hatha and modern Yoga. Maharishi Patanjali describes Asana as a “steady and comfortable posture.” Which refers to the seated postures used for Pranayama and meditation, where Dhyana is Samadhi, the path to transcendental self-realization. The Yoga Sutras do not name any Asanas but only specify the characteristics of good posture:
Sthira Sukham Asanam
Asana means steady and comfortable posture.
Types of Asana-
There are four types of Asanas according to their position
- Sitting Asanas
- Standing Asanas
- Laying Asanas in Supine position
- Laying Asanas in Prone position
Sitting Asanas-
- Padmasana
- Vajrasana
- Gomukhasana
- Paschimottanasana
- Shashankasana
Standing Asanas-
- Tadasana
- Vrikshasana
- Garunasana
- Trikonasana
- Ardhachakrasana
Laying Asanas in Supine position-
- Naukasana
- Halasana
- Shavasana
- Pavanmuktasana
- Setubandhasana
Laying Asanas in Prone position-
- Bhujangasana
- Shalabhasana
- Makarasana
- Dhanurasana
- Viparita Naukasana
Benefits of Asanas-
Yoga asanas have been practiced for centuries due to their many health benefits. Following are some of the most important benefits of asanas:
- Yoga asanas help stretch our back, knees, and hips, thereby relieving tension and muscle pain.
- Yoga postures help calm our minds and reduce stress and anxiety. They also improve concentration.
- The body movements during Yoga stretch our muscles, which increases blood circulation in the body. It makes the body more flexible.
- Most yoga postures require us to sit or stand with our backs straight. It helps improve body posture and also increases strength.