|
Asanas-Yoga rules
Bhadrasana
Brmhacharya asana
Don't Do
Asanas When
Eye Exercises
Gomukhasana
Hathyoga warm-up
Yoga Introduction
Introduction
Surya Namaskaar
The Plough Posture
The
Spinal Roll or Rocking Exercise
The Stomach Lift
What Asanas
Will Do For You
Yoni asana
Practical Suggestions to Hath Yoga Students
How to Practice
Schedule
of Exercises
Yoga Sutra defines asana as that which is
comfortable and easy, as well as firm. It is a dynamic position, in which the
practitioner is perfectly poised between activity and non-activity, being doing
and "being done by" the posture. A corresponding mental balance exists between
movement and stillness. Yoga teaches that each posture reflects a mental
attitude, whether that attitude be one of surrender, as in a forward bending
asana, or the strengthening of the will, through backward bending postures, or
the creation of a physical prayer or meditation with the body, as in the
practice of
padmasana
(lotus posture).
A posture or asana can be used for rejuvenating specific organs and glands as
well as the spine.
There are about
eighty-four asanas commonly used by yogis. We can, however, get sufficient
benefits from a dozen of them. We will only present some of the more important
ones here. If you what to learn more, there are many excellent books available
that goes deeper into these asanas.
Origin Of Asana
Names
Many of the
asanas have animal names, such as the fish posture and the cobra posture. This
is because yogis devised their asanas partly by observing how animal instincts
work in the wild. When animals are sick they would only eat certain herbs and
grasses. Similarly, they would stretch and contract muscles in various postures
instinctively.
Yogis also
observed how animals relaxed. Cats, especially, are experts in relaxation. On
awakening from sleep, they instinctively stretch, arch the spine in both
directions and then relax.
Asanas are also
based on a sound knowledge of human anatomy and physiology. Yogis knew that
placing the body in certain positions would stimulate specific nerves, organs
and glands. For example, the shoulder-stand posture causes the blood to be
directed by gravity to the thyroid gland, and the tucking in of the chin causes
a gently squeezing action on the gland. These two actions have a profound effect
on the thyroid gland.
How The Asanas
Work
The asanas are
based on five principles.
-
The use of gravity. The inverted postures
such as the headstand, shoulder stand and the reverse posture take advantage
of gravity to increase the flow of blood to the desired part of the body; in
the headstand to the brain, in the shoulder stand to the thyroid gland and in
the reverse posture to the gonads (sex glands)
-
Organ massage. The position of the asana
causes a squeezing action on a specific organ or gland, resulting in the
stimulation of that part of the body.
-
Stretching muscles and ligaments. This causes
an increase in blood supply to the muscles and ligaments as well as relaxing
them. It also takes pressure off nerves in the area.
-
This stretching is involved in all the asanas, since it has
such a beneficial effect on the body.
-
Deep breathing. While holding the yoga
posture we breathe slowly and deeply, moving the abdomen only (abdominal or
low breathing). This increases the oxygen and prana supply to the target organ
or gland, thereby enhancing the effect of the asana.
-
Concentration. As well as breathing slowly
and deeply, we also focus our attention on the target organ or gland. This
brings the mind into play, and greatly increases the circulation and prana
supply to the organ or gland.
This
concentration has the second benefit of increasing your general powers of
concentration through regular practice. This benefits every aspect of your life.
Your mind is less distracted and swayed by external events and you are therefore
calmer and worry less. You will be able to solve day-to-day problems better and
have more success in whatever activity you undertake.
|
