Flow Study: Asana Prepares the Body & Mind for Stillness
An Exploration of Yoga Philosophy
When people talk about “yoga,” they’re usually referring to the physical practice of yoga, or asana. Asana, though a central practice to the overall study of yoga, is just one of yoga’s many limbs. It’s important to understand asana as part of a larger whole.
This series of Flow Study blogs explore the Eight Limbs of Yoga, as outlined in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. First, we introduced the overall concept of Yoga Philosophy, and then we explored the first two limbs of yoga, the Yamas and the Niyamas. Today, we’re exploring the third limb of yoga, asana.
The Purpose of Asana
The Sanskrit word Asana translates to "posture,” referring to the physical postures of yoga—from standing warrior poses to reclined, restorative poses. Asana can also be translated as “seat,” which points to the ultimate purpose of the Asana practice: to prepare our body for seated mediation.
The sutras in the this limb of yoga explain that true mastery of asana arrives when the practitioner can transcend the restlessness of the body and mind to arrive in a more relaxed and open state (you might recognize this as a “post-yoga glow”). In this state, we are better able to be present in the now, which is where mediation occurs.
Asana in Action: Our Favorite Pose Studies
Over the years, we’ve written several pose studies on the Flow Study blog. Each is designed to take you deeper into a particular posture and also offer some context for more fully experiencing the energy of that pose in body and mind. Here are five of our most popular post studies:
Fire Toes, or Toe Squat Pose: A kneeling pose that provides a deep stretch across the bottom of the feet.
Star Pose: A joyful and expansive pose to lift the spirit and helps cultivate energy in the body.
Sphinx Pose: A belly-down pose offering a mini-back bend and great opening across the chest and shoulders.
Warrior II: A strong standing pose to build both physical strength and inner courage.
Warrior III: A full-body standing pose to improve balance and focus.