What are asanas?
Practice of asanas is the first visible practice of yoga. Asanas include all physical exercises. The classical meaning of asana is: Sthiram sukham aasanam: Steady, comfortable sitting. So, asana means a stable and comfortable manner of sitting. In english we say:”please take your seat” In Hindi, its “please take your asana”. Asan, is something that we sit on. So, when we sit on our hips, they also become our asana.
Asana is not only sitting, it is also the manner of sitting. So, then why are we doing so many asanas? It’s because stillness is difficult to achieve. Initially, our physical body isn’t strong enough to handle the process of sitting. So, in order to get comfortable siting, the masters created Hatha yoga. This is so that our body and muscles can become more flexible and strong. It is so that when we sit, our sitting is comfortable. When the practitioner can sit comfortably, stability will come. Initially in the body and then in the mind.
Mind has a nature to go to the discomfort first. Classically speaking, one must sit for 3 and half hours to master the asanas. After 3 and half hours, the full benefits of asanas will be visible. Then the spiritual benefits will begin. Hatha yoga asanas are designed in a manner to slowly increase your sitting capacity.
The physical benefits of asanas are visible. That's the main reason people practice yoga today. However, with time, one will be able to enjoy the spiritual and mental benefits of yoga as well. The physical benefits are rather universal and can be experienced by all practitioners.
What are the spiritual benefits of asana?
Effortlessness comes into your life. Life becomes less stressful.
The subject becomes unaffected by opposite kind of situations. One doesn’t get affected by heat or cold, success or failure, pain or pleasure …
The body can handle high voltage. By doing various asanas we make it ready. Here, the body can handle the prana, not electricity.
In a nutshell, asana is the classical term used for the yoga poses that we practice today. Warrior poses, lizard, running man … these are asanas. The beauty of yoga is that you can practice these poses anywhere. You don’t even need a mat. As you get advanced in your practice, you will learn to adjust to uneven surfaces and learn to hold your poses. That’s where I aim to take you with asanas. A nimble body is a reflection of a nimble mind. Being nimble and humble will make life effortless and enjoyable!