Asana - postures that stabilize the mind and the body through static stretching's.

An asana is a body posture, originally and still a general term for a sitting meditation pose, but later extended to any type of position in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise, including reclining, standing, inverted, twisting, and balancing poses. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali define “asana” as “steady and comfortable”. One of Patanjali’s eight limbs is the ability to sit for extended periods of time. In English, asanas are also known as yoga poses or yoga postures.

These are special patterns of postures that stabilize the mind and the body through static stretchings. Their aims are to establish a proper rhythm in the neuromuscular tonic impulses and improve the general muscle tone.

The two basic principles governing the performance of Asanas are stability and comfort. This suggests that the nature of Asanas is psychophysical and not only physical. Although the body used to practice Asanas the effect on the mind is also felt.

Perform asana effortlessly and maintained for a relaxing time. There should be no jerks and the performances of Asanas should not lead to undue fatigue.

Classical Yoga requires that asanas be done in a slow and steady manner., they generally stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. Thus, there is a feeling of being refreshed and rejuvenated after doing such asana practice.

When doing asanas, blood circulation remains more or less evenly throughout the body.

Asanas bring about an increase in the tone of the muscles, particularly when in the practice of asanas, the final posture is held for a longer duration.

The chances of injury and general wear and tear are very less while doing asanas.

The muscles of an asana practitioner are firm and soft to the touch.

The fundamental difference is that yoga asanas oppose violent muscle movement, as this causes fatigue, muscle stiffness and injury.

Regards the physical body as an instrument for the journey to perfection.

Designed to develop mental faculties and concentration.

Muscular movement does not necessarily mean a healthy body. Health is the state of the body when all organs function perfectly under the intelligent control of the mind.

The stretching of muscle forces blood through the valves of the veins; inverted postures use gravity to force the blood back to the heart and increase the volume of blood circulated.

In Yoga Asanas, using proper breathing and relaxation will help to combat muscle tiredness.

Classification of Asanas is as follows:

  1. Meditative Asanas
  2. Cultural Asanas
  3. Relaxative Asanas