YOGA ASANAS : A DETAILED VIEW ON ITS VARIOUS ASPECTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What is Yoga Asanas
Yoga Asanas are physical postures adopted by the Yogis in order to bring balance between physical body and mind. Unlike exercise, which is rhythmic movement of body parts, Asana includes holding of specific body positions with controlled breathing and gazing (Drishti).
According to Lord Shiva, the originator of Yoga, there are 8,400,000 asanas. Whereas according to hatha yoga only 84 Asanas are identified, out of which "Hatha Yoga Pradipika" (Book written by swathmarama) only gives detailed explanation about 15 Asanas.
Asana according to Hatha Yoga
Hathasya prathamaangatvaadaasanam pooruamuchyate.
Kuryaattadaasanam sthairyamaarogyam chaangalaaghavam.
Chapter-1, Verses-17-Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Meaning
Prior to everything, Asana is spoken of as the first part of Hatha Yoga.
Having done Asana, one attains steadiness of body and mind, freedom from disease and lightness of the limbs.
According to Hatha Yoga, Asana is important to maintain both physical and mental health. In Hatha Yoga Asana is considered as a tool to opens up energy channels of the body, as a important step to move for advanced stages of Hatha Yoga. 15 important Asanas are advised in Hatha Yoga Pradipika to liberate the blocked energies of body and to activate the chakras (Energy centers of body). Physical body, energy channels & centers and mind are inter-connected, so that any imbalance in them will show up as uneasiness of body or mind or any other physical or mental troubles.
Asana according to Raja Yoga
Sthira sukham asana
Patanjali Yoga Sutras
Meaning
Comfortable and steady posture is called Asana.
Importance of Asana in Raja Yoga (The supreme form of Yoga based on Patanjali Yoga Sutras) is to prepare for a steady and comfortable sitting posture, that's further helps yogi to perform it's higher stages of practices like Pranayama (Control of breath), Dharana (Concentration) and Dhyana (Meditation). The aim of Raja Yoga is to attain samadhi (Liberation), for that it's important to achieve a comfortable meditative posture so that Yogi can sit longer duration in meditation to focus into his/ her inner self.
How to start
Always start under the guidance of a Guru. It's better to follow instructions of guru, which will guide the practitioner in to right direction of becoming wellbeing. Hatha Yoga insists Shat Kriya's before the practice of Asana, as it's mandatory to cleanse the body, which makes the Yogi to feel easiness during the practice. Loosening exercises or warmup exercises are mandatory before Asana practice to prepare the body for stretching without any injury and pain.
IS ASANA SAME AS EXERCISE
Absolutely no. Even though both are physical actions, its effects are varied as there are some important differences between them. The aim of Exercise is to keep a healthy and fit body, for that purpose one practices rhythmic body movements with or without weight. Where as aim of Yoga Asana is to balance the body and mind by synchronizing it through breathing. The Yogi have to move the body parts along with movement of breath. Sometimes breath has to be hold for short duration during the posture. This brings some additional benefits to Yoga Asana practice compared to Exercise, that's to bring beneficial changes on emotional and mental level. Compared to Exercise, Asana's seems to be more beneficial for maintaining health.
Summary
Yoga Asanas are physical postures adopted by the Yogis in order to bring balance between physical body and mind. According to Lord Shiva, the originator of Yoga, there are 8,400,000 asanas and according to hatha yoga only 84 asana's are identified, out of which "Hatha Yoga Pradipika" gives detailed explanation about 15 Asanas. In Hatha Yoga Asana is considered as a tool to opens up energy channels of the body, as a important step to move for advanced stages of Hatha Yoga.
Importance of Asana in Raja Yoga is to prepare for a steady and comfortable sitting posture, that's further helps yogi to perform it's higher stages of practices like Control of breath, Concentration and Meditation. Loosening exercises or warmup exercises are mandatory before Asana practice to prepare the body for stretching without any injury and pain. Even though both Exercise and Asanas are physical actions, its effects are varied as there are some important differences between them. Asanas brings beneficial changes on emotional and mental level in additional to Exercise, where as Exercise have its major effect upon Physical body.
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