what does asana mean?

Question

I see this word on a yoga website and I don't knwo what it means.

Answer 1

Asana is Sanskrit for "seat". The plural is used to describe yoga postures; "seat" in this context refers not only to the physical position of the body, but to the position of the spirit in relation to divinity. This idea is often referred to as the "one seat", by yogis and Buddhists alike.

Modern usage of the word "asana" in reference to the practice of yoga generally intends the former definition of a physical posture or pose. In the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali describes "asana" as sitting meditation, where meditation is the path to self-realization. "Asana", therefore, means both simple postures and a path to unity of spirit.

Although "asana" originally referred to sitting meditation, its scope has evolved over centuries to cover a great variety of body postures. These postures have their roots in devotion and/or health, but ultimately all are intended to lead back to the possibility of sitting more comfortably in meditation.

The practice of asanas promotes:

muscle flexibility
bone strength
hard tissue strength.
It also:

massages the internal organs
brings various internal and glandular functions into balance.
A more esoteric intention is to facilitate the flow of prana (vital energy; qi in Chinese; ki in Japanese) to aid in balancing the koshas (sheaths) of the physical and metaphysical body.

The physical aspect of yoga, the asanas, has been much popularized in the West, and devoted celebrity practitioners like Madonna and Sting have contributed to the increased visibility of the practice. This has given rise to the misconception that yoga consists only of asana practice. Yoga asanas are actually part of Hatha Yoga, which is just one of several different yogic paths.

In the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali writes of asana as the third of the 8 limbs of classical yoga (Raja Yoga). These eight limbs are the yamas (obligations), niyamas (devotions), asanas (postures), pranayama (breath work), pratyahara (sense withdrawal or non-attachment), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (realization of the true self and/or unity with god).

Answer 2

Asana Meaning

Answer 3

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Answer 4

An asana is any of the various poses that are maintained while doing yoga. For example the 'lotus'position is an asana.

Answer 5

In yoga, the word “asana” means a posture, a steady position of the body. There are special methods of working with one’s body in order to prepare it for further stages of the spiritual work. Systems of asanas and other exercises of this stage of work are collectively called “hatha yoga”. They also help one acquire initial concentration skills and provide an entry-level development of energetic structures of the organism.

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
what does asana mean?
I see this word on a yoga website and I don't knwo what it means.

Answer 7

Asana is Sanskrit for "seat". The plural is used to describe yoga postures; "seat" in this context refers not only to the physical position of the body, but to the position of the spirit in relation to divinity. Modern usage of the word "asana" in reference to the practice of yoga generally intends the former definition of a physical posture or pose. In the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali describes "asana" as sitting meditation, where meditation is the path to self-realization. "Asana", therefore, means both simple postures and a path to unity of spirit.

Although "asana" originally referred to sitting meditation, its scope has evolved over centuries to cover a great variety of body postures. These postures have their roots in devotion and/or health, but ultimately all are intended to lead back to the possibility of sitting more comfortably in meditation.
"There are an infinite number of Yoga asana." (Sri Dharma Mittra).

In 1975, as an offering of devotion to his guru, Swami Kailashananda Maharaj, Sri Dharma Mittra set out to catalogue the vast number of Yoga asana. Through ancient texts, books, students, teachers, and his own vast knowldege, he compiled 1300 variations. These were originally published as the classic Master Yoga Chart, and 608 of these postures were recently made available in a small compendium entitled, "Asanas: 608 Yoga Poses" by Dharma Mittra (New World Library; 2003 ISBN 1-57731-402-6). Although there is no way to establish an exact set of postures, this work is considered the definitive collection by students and Yogis, alike.

Along with the above mentioned resource, there is a wealth of knowledge on this subject available in books, and on the internet. It is best, however, to begin under the direction of an experienced, and hopefully certified, Yoga instructor. This person can observe the execution of postures, as well as providing more in-depth instruction to aid in both your basic practice, and your development as a student.

Given the number of postures available, it is unfortunate that many teachers regularly practice the same dangerous postures. Many injuries occur when excess weight is placed on the cervical (neck) spine (ex. plow pose, headstand) or when the spine is placed out of alignment and then pressure applied (ex."bow" or “wheel”). The practice of these postures leads to ruptured disks and long term injuries for regular practitioners. There is a strong movement in the yoga community to stop teaching such dangerous poses, especially given the injuries that teachers have sustained. It is always appropriate in any yoga class to skip whatever dangerous pose you do not wish to do and do something else.

The physical aspect of yoga, the asanas, has been much popularized in the West, and devoted celebrity practitioners like Madonna and Sting have contributed to the increased visibility of the practice. This has given rise to the misconception that yoga consists only of asana practice. Yoga asanas are actually part of Hatha Yoga, which is just one of several different yogic paths.

In the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali writes of asana as the third of the 8 limbs of classical yoga (Raja Yoga). These eight limbs are the yamas (obligations), niyamas (devotions), asanas (postures), pranayama (breath work), pratyahara (sense withdrawal or non-attachment), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (realization of the true self and/or unity with god)-.

Answer 8

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/asana

Answer 9

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Answer 10

Its a term of yoga.There are lot of exercise positions and they are called asanas.The yoga is an Indian form of science which deals with healthy living,pranayam .and asna's are its main parts