According to the Hatha Yoga Pradipika “Asana is the first component of Hatha Yoga and should be practiced first. It brings steadiness, health and lightness of body”
According to Rishi Patanjali “Asana is a steady and comfortable posture”
Asanas help bring about a state of equilibrium in the body such that they can be experienced without pain or discomfort. When a Yogi is able to attain mastery over an asana and attains Asana Jay, he is not distracted or oppressed by worldly dualities such as heat, cold, strength and weakness. Generally its is considered very difficult to be able to overcome such natural affects. But great Yogis have been able to overcome all these through the practice of Yoga. All this is because of the mastery over the techniques of asana and pranayama.
A person who is not able to maintain a meditative posture for a long period of time is not fit for the practice of higher forms of Yoga. Pranayama is also not truly effective until one is able to attain mastery over asanas. It is believed that asana jay is achieved when a person is able to remain stable if undisturbed for a period of three hours in a single position of asana.
It is always tough to hold a posture over a period of time. For a new Yogi it is even tougher a task. The degree of discomfort that a Yogi faces will also depend on the kind of posture he/she has chosen. Once the Yogi has achieved Asana Jay, there comes a natural balance to his posture and he is able to maintain the same for long periods of time. This stage slows down the movement of prana or vital air through the body and calms the mind.
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December 2nd, 2009 | Tags: 
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