ASANAS
What is Asana?
An asana is a pose or posture used in the practice of yoga. It is estimated that there are thousands of asana in the incredibly varied discipline of yoga, with around 100 in active use by yogis all over the world. Asana range from simple, relaxing poses which can be held by people at all levels of ability to complex postures which push the limits of the practitioner's body. A yoga session involves running through a series of asana and holding them for varying periods of time.
Benefits of doing Asanas
In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali says: Sukham sthiram asanam. That which is absolutely comfortable and stable is your asana. What does it mean? Sadhguru explains: “It simply means that your body is at ease, your mind is at ease, and your energy is at full vibrancy and balance. Now you are naturally meditative.” The asana is a preparatory step to come to a state of naturally being meditative. So in a way, asanas are a dynamic way of meditating.It is very important to understand that asanas are not exercises. Yogis have always understood that the physical body has a whole memory structure. Everything – from how this cosmos evolved from nothingness up to this point – is just written into this body. So when we do asanas, we are opening up that memory and trying to restructure this life towards an ultimate possibility. It is a very subtle and scientific process – and it can become an explosive experience.