Friday 21 July 2017

Asana , Prana , Kundalini , Body and mind Connection


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What is Asana?

Asana is a first part of the hatha yoga. By doing asana, one attains steadiness of body and mind, freedom from disease and attains lightness of the limbs (body parts). So that Asana means a state of being in which one  can remain physically and mentally steady, calm, quiet and comfortable. In the yoga sutras of patanjali there is a short definition of yogasanas as : “Sthiram sukham asanam”, it means that the position which is comfortable and steady. So, we can see that yogasanas in this context are practiced to develop the practitioner’s ability to sit comfortably in one position for an extended length of time as is necessary during meditation. In raja yoga, asana refers to the sitting position, but in hatha yoga  it means something more. 

In hatha yoga asanas are specific body positions which open the energy channels and psychic centers. They are tools to higher awareness and provide the stable foundation for exploration of our body, breath, mind and beyond which is spiritual soul. With the regular practice of yogasanas one can develop the control of the body and also helps to build a strength in our body. It is found that by developing control of the body through asana, the mind is also controlled. Therefore, the practice of asana is foremost in hatha yoga. In the yogic scriptures it is said that there were originally 8,4000,000 asanas which represent the 8,4000,000 incarnations every individual must pass through before attaining liberation from the cycle of birth and death.

In modern times great rishis and yogis modified and reduced the number of asanas to the few hundred known today. From these few hundred asanas only the eighty- four most useful asanas are discussed in detail in hatha yoga and most of the asanas are named in the name of animals.

Yogasanas and Prana:

Prana, vital energy, which is life energy. It expands the whole body, following flow patterns, called nadis (energy channels), which are responsible for maintaining all individual cellular activity. Stiffness of the body is due to a blockage of prana and a subsequent accumulation of toxins in our body. When prana begins to flow, the toxins are removed from the system ensuring the health of the whole body. As the body becomes soft and supple, postures which semed impossible become easy to perform, and steadiness and grace of movement develop. When the quantum of prana is increased to a great degree, the body moves into certain postures by itself and asanas, mudras and pranayamas occur spontaneously.

Yogasanas and  Kundalini:

The ultimate purpose of practising yoga is the awakening of Kundalini shakti, the evolutionary energy in man. Practising asanas stimulates the chakras,distributing the generated energy of kundalini all over the body.About thirty- five asanas are specifically designed to awaken chakras. Such as Sarvangasana for Vishuddhi Chakra (throat chakra), Sirshasana for sahasrara (crown) Chakra, Bhujangasana for manipura chakra and so on. And the other asanas regulate and purify the nadis which helps to make the conduction of prana throughout the body.


Herewith now I say that the hatha yoga is not just practicing asanas, the main object of hatha yoga is to create balance between the activities we do and processes of the pranic  and mental forces. Once this has been achieved, the impulses generated helps for awakening sushumna nadi, the central pathway in the spine through which the kundalini  shakti rises to sahasrara chakra. Then the higher centers of human consciousness arises for the deeper practice of meditation.

Asanas, therefore not only  strengthens the body and improves health but also activates and awakens the higher centers responsible for the evolution of human consciousness.

Yogasanas and the body – mind connection

The mind and body are not separate entities although there is a tendency to think and act as though they are. The gross form of the mind is the body and the subtle form of the body is the mind. The practice of asana integrates and harmonises the two. Both the body and the mind harbor tensions or knots. Every mental knot has a corresponding physical, muscular knot and vice versa. The aim of asana is to release knots. Asanas release mental tensions by dealing with them on the physical level, acting somato---psychically through the body to the mind. For example, emotional tensions and suppression can tighten up and block the smooth functioning of the lungs, diaphragm and breathing process, contributing to a very debilitating illness in the form of asthma. Muscular knots can occur anywhere in the body:tightness of the neck as cervical spondylitis, the face as neuralgia, etc. A well chosen set of asanas, combined with pranayamas, shatkarmas, meditation and yoga nidra, is most effective in eliminating these knots,tackling them from both the mental and physical levels. The result is the release of dormant energy, the body becomes full of vitality and strength, the mind becomes light, creative, joyful and balanced. Regular practice of asana maintains the physical body in an optimum condition and promotes health even in an unhealthy body. Through asana practice, the dormant energy potential is released and experienced as increased confidence in all areas of life.

Yogasana and exercise:

Some people have often been thought of yogasanas as a form of exercise. They are not exercises, but  asanas are the techniques techniques which place the physical body in positions that cultivate awareness, relaxation, concentration and meditation.


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1 comment:

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