What are the Asanas ?
Steady and comfortable must be the posture.
Patanjali, Yoga Sutras II.46
Asanas are the way by which Yoga works on the physical body. Through movements and postures we exercise our muscles, lubricate our joints, release tensions, diminish stiffness and other aging signs, recover vitality, and we can prevent and treat physical and mental diseases.
But what does it make asanas so special? Why have they drawn the attention of so many people in west from almost one century? Maybe, it is because of all these benefits mentioned above. However they are just secondary to the practice of Yoga. The main goal of Yoga as a system, and asanas as a practice, is to direct our attention inwards, pursuing the same final objective: uplift the human consciousness, to reach liberation.
What is the importance of the asana practice ?
Whether you work, study, travel, practice devotional service, or you have any other lifestyle, asanas, as a way of exercising the physical body, will help you to recover your original posture, and therefore, your health.
A wrong posture may block the flow of liquids through the channels of the body, it allows the accumulation of waste materials, it generates pain and lead to diseases. From a psychological perspective, a wrong posture goes along with emotional blockages, attachments, addictions, among other detrimental rajasic (passionate) and tamasic (ignorant) tendencies. With an adequate regular practice of asanas and other yogic tools, you can surely overcome those obstacles in a sattvic (goodness) way.
Patanjali, Yoga Sutras II.46
Asanas are the way by which Yoga works on the physical body. Through movements and postures we exercise our muscles, lubricate our joints, release tensions, diminish stiffness and other aging signs, recover vitality, and we can prevent and treat physical and mental diseases.
But what does it make asanas so special? Why have they drawn the attention of so many people in west from almost one century? Maybe, it is because of all these benefits mentioned above. However they are just secondary to the practice of Yoga. The main goal of Yoga as a system, and asanas as a practice, is to direct our attention inwards, pursuing the same final objective: uplift the human consciousness, to reach liberation.
What is the importance of the asana practice ?
Whether you work, study, travel, practice devotional service, or you have any other lifestyle, asanas, as a way of exercising the physical body, will help you to recover your original posture, and therefore, your health.
A wrong posture may block the flow of liquids through the channels of the body, it allows the accumulation of waste materials, it generates pain and lead to diseases. From a psychological perspective, a wrong posture goes along with emotional blockages, attachments, addictions, among other detrimental rajasic (passionate) and tamasic (ignorant) tendencies. With an adequate regular practice of asanas and other yogic tools, you can surely overcome those obstacles in a sattvic (goodness) way.
Everybody can get benefits from the asana practice.
However, from an Ayurvedic point of view, Vata predominant people correct their tendencies to postural distortions. Kapha predominant people experiment it as a stimulus for re-activation, and overcoming their slow and sedentary way of life. On the other hand, asanas allow Pitta predominant people to cool down and refresh their minds. In order to achieve those benefits, the sequence as a whole needs to follow this general rule: √ Slow, steady and gentle asanas, settled in a peaceful physical and mental space, will be beneficial for Vata. √ Sequences that lead to coolness and relaxation are meant to be for Pitta. √ Active sequences, with quick and heating movements, will be beneficial for Kapha. |
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There are many scientific researches supporting evidence about the multiplicity of benefits of Yoga. They constitute a valuable input that allows us to understand through our modern way of thinking how Yoga, and specially Hatha Yoga, works. Focused on the physical as well as the psychological and social effects obtained from the practice of Yoga, they have showed us how helpful it can be to the modern human being. Nevertheless, as Lopez and Diaz-Paez (1) have said in their review about Yoga researches, future studies in the field will need to analyze with an even wider understanding the eight limbs of the Ashtanga Yoga of Patanjali, undertanding its complexity.
You can visit our section Type of asanas and their benefits ! |
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References:
- What is Yoga ?
- Ashtanga Yoga
- Prana and Pranayama
- Pranayamas in daily life
- Join us for a Yoga sessions !
References:
- Lopez, V., Diaz-Paez, A. (1997) Efectos del Hatha Yoga Sobre la Salud, Parte II. Available in http://scielo.sld.cu/scielo.php?pid=S0864-21251998000500016&script=sci_arttex