Yoga asana means the practice of yoga posture developed thousands of years ago by our sages. According to the Patanjali yoga sutra, asana comprises the third fold in the eight-fold path after Yama and Niyama.
The asana in yoga means the physical practice of this ancient science. The classical meaning of asana is thiram sukham aasana, which means steady, comfortable sitting. So, asana means a stable and comfortable way of sitting. Our sages design the practice of yoga posture to prepare our body for the seated practice of dhyana. The physical practice of asana is to be found in various styles. Yoga asana has been a part of hatha yoga, a branch of yoga that combines physical movement with breathing techniques, that is, pranayama.
Ashtanga yoga comprises six series. Vinyasa yoga is designed to tone your body in a short period. However, there is no such specific sequence; hence, in this style of yoga, teachers have the freedom to become more creative. The traditional practice of Ashtanga yoga is more strict regarding its approach to yoga asana. Late BKS Iyengar, who popularized restorative or Iyengar yoga, has made yoga more accessible for people recovering from injuries.
The whole point of yoga asana is to make you feel better, not worse than before they began. For this reason, it is essential to perform each movement practised slowly with a heightened sense of awareness. Through the practice of yoga asana, not only will you work on your physical body but also your mind, hence giving a sense of holistic well-being. That is why before joining yoga teacher training in India, practising some basic yoga poses is essential so that your body gets accustomed to rigorous yoga practice for your upcoming yoga TTC in Rishikesh.
This is one of regular asana practice's most visible outcomes. Yoga techniques are designed to lengthen muscles while strengthening them and increasing their flexibility. Yoga promotes leaner muscles compared to muscles gained from the gym. It is also a good practice for athletes. Restorative yoga practices combined with pranayama techniques can relieve sore muscles and tension.
The asanas encourage the practitioner to control the mind and go deeper into the poses. This has a lasting effect on the mind that can be applied outside of the mat. Many companies in the West have started offering yoga classes because researchers have found a connection between yoga and an increase in productivity. So, the benefits of yoga go beyond the mat in our workplace!
Asana is not only sitting but also the manner of sitting. So, 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 sitting. So, to get comfortable sitting, the masters created Hatha yoga. This is so our body and muscles can become more flexible and robust. It is so that when we sit, our sitting is comfortable. When the practitioner can sit comfortably, stability will initially come in the body and then in the mind.
The mind has a nature that goes to the discomfort first. Hatha yoga asanas are designed to slowly increase your sitting capacity. Classically speaking, one must sit for three and a half hours to master the asanas. After three and a half hours, asanas' full benefits will be visible. Then, the spiritual benefits will begin.
In essence, yoga is a spiritual practice focused on bringing harmony between the mind and body. Some spiritual benefits of yoga include:
AYM is one of the oldest yoga teacher training schools in Rishikesh, India. It is situated in the lush mountains of Upper Tapovan. It offers 200, 300 Hour and 500 hour TTC throughout the year. From white water rafting to trekking in the Himalayas, the possibilities for outdoor adventures are limitless in Rishikesh. One can immediately feel the aura of spirituality and devotion as they enter this spiritual capital of yoga.
See also Yoga Teacher Training in Rishikesh
