In the last post on “What is Yoga” – We understood –

^{Yoga is not an ancient myth buried in oblivion. It is the most valuable inheritance of the present. It is essential need of today and the culture of tomorrow.}

^{Swami Satyanada Saraswati}

Now lets understand ‘Yogasana‘

Let’s break it down further to understand ‘Asana‘ : It is a state of being in which one can remain physically & mentally steady, calm, quiet and comfortable.

^{“Sthiram Sukham Aasanam“}

^{The position which is comfortable & steady}

^{Yoga Sutras by Sage Patanjali}

In the same context, asanas are practised to develop the ability to sit comfortably in one position for extended period of time, an ability necessary for meditation.

^{Raja Yoga equates Yogasana to the stable sitting position.}

In ancient days, Yogasanas became tools to higher awareness, providing the stable foundation necessary for the exploration of the breath, mind and higher states. For this main reason, asana practice comes first in Hatha Yoga Pradipika.

If you notice, most of the asanas are named after animals.

Through observation, it is understood that how animals live in harmony with their bodies and the environment.

Through experience, , the effects of a particular posture were understood and how the hormonal secretions could be stimulated and controlled by it.

For example, by imitating the rabbit in ‘shashankasana’ one could influence the flow of adrenaline responsible for ‘fight & flight‘ mechanism. And while doing so, it could maintain health and meet the challenges of nature for oneself.

Prana i.e. vital energy pervades the whole body, following flow patterns called nadis, which are responsible for maintaining all individual and subsequent accumulation of toxins. When prana begins to flow, the toxins are removed from the system, ensuring health of the whole body. As body becomes supple, postures which seemed impossible become easy to perform and then steadiness and grace are inevitable.

^{The ultimate purpose of yoga is the awakening of the kundalini shakti, the evolutionary energy in us. Practicing asanas stimulates the chakras, distributing the generated kundalini all over the body.}

The main purpose of Hatha yoga is to create balance between the interacting activities and processes of the pranic and mental forces. Once this has been activated, the impulses generated give a call of awakening to sushumna nadi, the central pathway in the spine, through which the kundalini energy ascends to the Crown Chakra, thereby illuminating the higher centres of human consciousness.

Hatha Yoga therefore, not only strengthens the body and improves health, but also activates and awakens the higher centres responsible for the evolution of human consciousness.

The mind and body are not separate entities, although there is a tendency to think and act as though they are. But, think about it:

^{The gross form of the mind is body and the subtle form of the body is the mind.}

The practice of asanas, therefore, integrates and harmonizes the mind and body. Every mental knot has a physical, muscular knot and vice-versa. Asanas release mental tensions by dealing with them on a physical level, acting somato-psychically, through the body to mind.

For example, emotional tension and suppression can tighten up and block the smooth functioning of lungs, diaphragm and breathing process, contributing to debilitating illness in the form of respiratory discomfort.

Regular practice of asanas maintains the physical body in an optimum conditions and promotes health even in an unhealthy body. Through asana practice, the dormant energy potential is released and experienced as increased confidence in all areas of life. A well chosen set of asanas combined with pranayama, shatkarmas, meditation and yoga nidra, is most effective in tackling both mental and physical situations.