Postures

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Postures (asana)

Sutra ll.46 Sthirasukhamasanam
Sthira: firm, stable, without change, resolute, changeless.
Sukham: easy, agreeable, comfortable, happy, prosperous, soft.
Asanam: yoga posture, seated, being seated, way of sitting, the camp, situation, place.
Postures are to be "firmly established in a happy space" (Gerard Blitz)
-source: The Essence of Yoga- Bernard Bouanchaud

ASANAS are the physical postures of yoga practice - this becomec a spiritual practice when they are done with the bhav or Divine mood of devotion.and the breath, which links the mind and the body to the source of their creation.

People often look at pictures of postures and say " I can't do that" or they fold themselves into a shape and say " I can do that". YOGA is neither a competition, nor a contest. It is not about contortion. Nowhere in the Yoga Sutras does it mention anything about postures other than that they should be steady and comfortable. The breath and one's focus must also be present, unlike in an exercise class. There is a devotional aspect to practice, and a cleansing and refining of the body so that our system, so often overloaded due to stress and emotions, can rebalance, replenish and restore itself to its optimum state of healing and wellbeing. In fact, sometimes, certain postures may be unsuitable for the practitioner, while others may be prescribed. Essentially, this is why YOGA is come to be known as alternative medecine and where the words YOGA THERAPY have been coined.