Yoga Break Destinations

Learning Yoga

 

Asana - Posture

Asana means 'Sitting Down' in the original Sanskrit and is nowadays defined as a yoga-related body position through which the yoga practitioner improves their well-being and ameliorates their body's life-force and its physical malleability. A consequence of Asana is the ability for the yogi (yogini for female students, yogin for both genders) to remain unmoving in a seated position for hours at a time. Asana is often used on its own as an exercise or even as Alternative Medicine.

Patanjali described Asana as the third limb of the eight limbs of Classical Yoga and relating to being 'seated in a position that is firm but relaxed'. Since then, Asana has been used to describe a host of yoga positions that now include horizontal (the yogi lying on his back) to vertical positions (such as where the yoga stands on his head). Patanjali stated that the sole physical requirement for practicing Asana is that the yoga be 'steady and comfortable' and this open-ended specification has given rise to a host of interpretations.

Whatever the chosen physical position, the goal  of the yogi (as laid down by the Sankya School of the Himalayan Masters) is for the practitioner to rid him or herself of:
  • Joy
  • Grief
  • Hot
  • Cold
  • Hunger
  • Satiety
The reduction of importance and eventual removal of these three pairs of 'dualities' constitute the first steps on the road to the detachment from the body and the alleviation of suffering.

There are eight basic traditional practices for the performance of Asana, these being:
  • Breathing - this should be steady and controlled (Asana is more effective if the appropriate pranayama for the given type of yoga is followed)
  • Body - this should be free of stress (Corpse or Child Pose should be performed if this is not attained)
  • Stomach - this should be as empty as possible
  • Position - Asanas should ideally be performed on Yoga Mats and not directly on the floor
  • Control - neither force nor pressure should be used and the body should not be still and not tremble
  • Movement - all parts of the body and, in particular the head and any raised heels, should be lowered slowly
  • Headaches - Savasana and Sukhasana can be used to help reduce the pain
  • Relaxation - After the session, the yogi should descend into a deeper state of relaxation (Actual sleep should be avoided after Asana)
It has also been suggested that female yogi (yogini) should not practice inverted positions if they are menstruating.

Asana has been taken up by celebrities such as Sting and Madonna and they have done much to popularise the the more physical aspect of yoga. Asana is seen as giving the following benefits:
  • Normalising blood pressure
  • Improving the functioning of the circulatory system
  • Increasing concentration span
  • Dieting and weight loss
  • Aiding muscle flexibility and body tone
  • Lifting the efficiency of the respiratory system
  • Boosting stamina
  • Reducing stress
  • Raising tendon strength
These are very much perceived as 'modern ailments' and go a long way to explain the ever-increasing rise in demand for instruction in Asana.