Yoga Life, Why we need asana in yoga Practice

Why do we do the physical practice in yoga is it to become more flexible – both physically and mentally? Is it a just Physical Exercise? Or we need some thing else?

“asana” has become synonymous with “yoga” in the minds of most people. but it is a only one part of yoga  When yoga was introduced in the West, the postures were easy to popularize, asana practice has been easy to market but there are many other things but today we discuss Asana

In Patanjali's Yoga Sutra, the eightfold path is called ashtanga, which literally means "eight limbs" (ashta=eight, anga=limb).

Asanas, the postures practiced in yoga, comprise the third limb. In the yogic view, the body is a temple of spirit, the care of which is an important stage of our spiritual growth. Through the practice of asanas, we develop the habit of discipline and the ability to concentrate, both of which are necessary for meditation Asana is one of the most important part of yoga

But the practice of asanas is not just physical exercise rather it requires the participation of one’s whole being, with awareness of oneself in relation to the physical position and movement, the breath, relaxation of the muscles and so forth. Our real existence has three aspects body, mind, and consciousness. By doing asanas we are aiming to influence all three aspects into one harmonious whole.

According to maharishi  patanjali Asana is

                          स्थिरसुखमासनम् ॥४६॥
               An asana is what is steady and pleasant

The main purpose of Asana is to prepare oneself so that one can be steady and comfortable to sit and meditate. That’s why ultimately two most important asanas are Padmasana (Lotus pose) & Siddhasana (Perfect pose). When one is able to maintain a posture for 2-3 hours in a steady and comfortable way then one can be accepted as a master of asana.

While practicing asanas, we need relaxed and deep breathing and we need to be very much aware of posture and different stretched and contracted parts of the body while holding the posture, a yogi needs to relax the stressed parts and develop steady and comfortable posture.

But today, people often go to “yoga” classes to enhance their physical fitness only, and in most classes asanas are taught as a means of addressing the concerns of the body only but the practice of asana is also done for opening the energy channels (nadis) and psychic centers (chakras). Asana practice helps one to develop control over body and in turn by having control over the body, the mind is also controlled. When a yogi practices asana, prana in nadis flows freely and because of which there are lesser chances of disease. Because when prana flow through blocked energy channels (nadis) , it invites many diseases in the body. Stiffness in the body is due to blockages and accumulation of toxins. By opening the energy channels, prana begins to flow, toxins are removed and the body becomes light and flexible. When a yogi increases the flow of prana in the body, performing different mudras and pranayama also becomes very easy. And one can also perform very difficult asanas very easily.

And when one can be steady and comfortable to sit it helps him to mediate for a long time because meditation was the goal and asanas were a means of enhancing the capacity of the body and mind so that a person could sit in meditation for long periods with as few distractions as possible and it helps us in our yogic path it helps us to understand our self and the world and it solve the purpose of yoga the union it make union of body and mind and the union of mind and soul and the union of soul with supreme power