Ashtanga Yoga: The Role of Asanas, and a Very Brief Background/History
By AmHm • Aug 6th, 2009 at 9:40 am • Category: Yoga| Hot: |  |  | | | |
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Most people understand yoga (Ashtanga or otherwise) to be is a series of postures performed to increase strength and flexibility. This assumption is not incorrect. Yoga postures, also known as asanas, do strengthen the body, improve balance and posture and increase flexibility, and no practitioner would dispute their ability to focus the mind and connect with the body. However, for some practitioners, asanas are just a small fraction of a yoga practice.
The Role of Asanas in Ashtanga Yoga
For serious practitioners of Ashtanga Yoga, asanas serve as preparation to stabilize and control the mind, which one, of many, steps along the “the path of internal purification for revealing the Universal Self,” which is the ultimate goal of this practice, and for some yogi’s and yogini’s (female practitioners), the ultimate goal of life. Heavy ;)
The Yoga Sutras and the Eight Limbs of Yoga
The role of asanas are laid out in the Yoga Sutras, and ancient Indian text that describes the mental and spiritual foundations of yoga, and outlines the “eight limbs” of yoga from which “Ashtanga” Yoga derives its name; the Sanskrit word literally translates to “eight limbs.”
Each of the eight limbs relates to one aspect of achieving a healthy and fulfilling life, ideally reaching personal enlightenment; and each limb builds upon the one before and is complemented by the one after (much like the nearly 75 postures in an Ashtanga class, but that’s another post.)
The Eight Limbs are outlined very briefly below:
- Yama: consists of five ethical guidelines regarding moral behavior including nonviolence and truthfulness.
- Niyama: consists of five ethical guidelines regarding moral behavior towards oneself, including self-study and cleanliness.
- Asana: the practice of yoga postures.
- Pranayama: the practice of breathing exercises.
- Pratyahara: Withdrawal of the senses so that the exterior world is no longer a distraction from the interior world within oneself.
- Dharana: Concentration, meaning the ability to focus on something uninterrupted by external distractions.
- Dhyana: unfocused (all encompassing) Meditation.
- Samadhi: Bliss. The transcendence of the self through meditation; The merging of the self with the universe. This stage is sometimes translated as enlightenment.
As you can see, Asanas (the postures we commonly associate with yoga) are just one of these eight limbs.
Personal Practice
In my personal practice, I’m coming at this from a beginner’s perspective. For now, my focus will be primarily physical, working within the Asana and Pranayama branches. Many students come to practice this way, which seems an appropriate fit given that asanas were first practiced in order to prepare yogi’s to sit, or stand, for very long periods of time in meditation. (See yoga dude below:)
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Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, the founder of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, has been quoted saying that it is “not possible to practice the limbs … when the body and sense organs are weak and haunted by obstacles. A person must first take up daily asana practice to make the body strong and healthy. With the body and sense organs thus stabilized, the mind can be steady and controlled.” Simply put, you must connect with your body before you attempt to connect with your mind.
A Beginner’s Perspective
I haven’t studied Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, I don’t yet practice daily, I have not gone through an extensive teacher-training program, and I have only been practicing regularly for a few months now. However, my curiosity has been piqued and I hope to chronicle my experiences as a beginner to this ancient practice, as well as my research about the practice (from history to specific poses, breath work to body locks).
That said, I don’t currently attend my Ashtanga classes with any aspirations of revealing the Universal Self (I’m hoping that’s one of those things that just… hits you). But, I am truly beginning to learn something new about myself every day. Whether it’s relative to this mind/body/universal self connection or to a new flexibility in my ankles, Ashtanga yoga teaches me something every time I practice; and right now that is enough for me. Hopefully when the Universal Self (that scamp) catches up with me, I’ll be ready.
Asanas have another responsibility and importance from the point of view of physical health.
“The organs of the human body are made up of tissues. This is the reason why the health of human body depends on the health of tissues. According to physiology, there are three conditions of health of the different tissues of the human body. These are:-
i) Constant supply of proper nourishment and of the internal secretions of the endocrine glands,
ii) Effective removal of waste products; and
iii) Healthy functioning of the nerve-connections. Cultural poses are fully capable of fulfilling these conditions.”
The practice of Yoga Exercises or Yoga Asanas can improve your health, increase your resistance, and develop your mental awareness.
Yoga Postures | Poses – Step by Step Guidance
Suraksha
http://sktegta.com
http://atmabodh.net
What a welcoming site! Thanks so much for the information. It is great to hear about how people are teaching the all encompassing nature of true yoga. Although we think that yoga (most often in the western world) is only yoga postures or asanas, the other facets of yoga are also important.
Asanas which provide strength, flexibility, control of balance, also if done correctly release power, build siddhis (spiritual powers), allow Samadhi (divine union with God), and even in partners yoga ecstasy and release of kundalini.
Three important consideration when doing Asanas are 1) to build sequences, 2) to allow for release of energy or enter Samadhi, and 3) repeat postures often, or hold them in end range during longer periods of time, allow the power of a stretch contraction ration to be building into power/relaxation.
This is the key to allow Samadhi to be built into all yoga postures.
I started taking Yoga lessons last month and i am amazed of how it can take away the stress of my mind and body.
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Many yoga classes are out there, and you may be turned off if you pick one that does not suit your personality and state of physical fitness. For most beginners, a hatha or vinyasa class will be most appropriate, depending on whether you want a slow or fast-paced class. These are basic styles, and you can always try something fancier later.
I have been doing Yoga since college and i love the way that it can relax my body. yoga is great for stress relief. :
hie..I’m visiting your blog for the first time and I must say it’s too good ! Yoga asanas were practiced in Gurukulas in the olden days and so the people were strong and healthy and had long lives. I also have a strong love for yoga and is always find it interesting to learn about new asanas and poses.
Here you may see a number of yoga asanas –
http://www.a2zyoga.com/yoga-poses/asanas.php