Yoga Asanas: Benefits, Purpose, and Precautions of Yoga

What is Yoga Asanas?

Asana is not just a physical process, the seeds of spiritual creation are hidden in it. Asana is the first door to enter spirituality. The word Asana is used in many meanings. Rishi Patanjali said ‘Sthirasukhmasanam’ meaning the pose, in which stability and happiness can be settled, that is the Yoga Asan. Asanas can be done in all three poses – lying down, sitting, and standing. Asana not only makes the activities of the body systematic but also provides stability to speech and mind. In the present time, the usefulness of asanas is proved beyond doubt.

People prefer travelling abroad. It is the extroverted attitude that takes a person away from the Self. As far as we go from ourselves, it becomes the cause of half-disease. In yoga asanas, we learn about the maximum benefit of spirituality. Asanas and pranayama teach us about the purification of the body, breathing and prana.

Sitting things used for Asanas are also very important. These sitting things should be made of yarn, kusha, straws, wool etc. Wool made seat is considered best. Asana is for the comfortable position of the body. There are innumerable types of asanas described in hatha yoga. The number of Asanas is 84 lakhs; which is equal to the number of creatures in the world. Out of these, 84 asanas have been dominant. Keeping in view the time, area and physical structure, some selected asanas have been discussed here from the point of view of Yoga Asanas and meditation.

Forms and Type of Yogasan

Asanas are practised for power enhancement. Steadiness and speed are two forms of asana.

A steady yoga posture (Sthit Asana) is useful for meditation. A person can stay for a long time in this posture. Padmasan (lotus pose), Vajrasan (thunderbolt pose, or diamond pose), Siddhasan (accomplished pose), Sukhasan (easy pose) and Sampadasan – these are meditation asanas. The muscles get relaxation from the easy asanas.

In moving asanas, the body is made balanced by the mutual movement of the muscles. These muscles stabilize the joints and maintain balance against gravity. There is an increase in power in this.

In dynamic asanas, the components of the body have to be made dynamic. This movement is done very slowly and carefully. While doing these, attention is focused on the changing muscles of the body. After movement, it is necessary to leave the body relaxed for some time so that exotic elements can be removed and energy can be accumulated in the body.

Yoga Asanas Relaxes Body

In the beginning, there is slight tension on the muscles by the practice of the asana, but by gradual and continuous practice, the comfortable position of the asana can be reached. The body does not experience tension then. The purpose of asana is not only to move the muscles in a way; it is also necessary to leave the body relaxed along with the asana because it is only through this that the exotic elements that are stuck in the nervous system are purified. Try to relax the muscles and body; mentioned in the Yoga-Sutras is the correct statement, it makes the body relaxed and tension-free.

Asana is the basis of self-victory. In its absence, how can a person practice long meditation, inner travelling, emotion controlling etc.? The use of asanas is not only physical but also spiritual. With the practice of asanas, not only body restraint but speech and mind are also restrained. With this, along with physical health, it is easy to relieve mental stress. By regular practice of asanas, the body becomes fit for internal travel. External distress becomes tolerable. The ability to bear external distress starts to arise.

Also Read: Category, Different Types and Benefits of Yogasan

Yoga Asana and health benefits

Asana plays an important role in physical health, mental peace and spiritual development. Asana is as useful for an unhealthy person as it is essential for a healthy person. In the present era, due to excessive work and busyness, man abandons the useful and necessary activities of his life, due to which he not only loses his health but also blocks the path of self-development.

Yogasana has a direct effect on the different parts of the body along with mental happiness. The joints, bladder, liver, lungs, heart, brain etc. start performing their respective functions properly. Yoga asana is beneficial for students in a lot of ways; i.e. strengthening children, increasing their memory, reducing their stress, and many other benefits. 

Strengthen body muscle

The muscles become strong and shapely by the asanas, due to which the obesity of the stomach and waist is removed. By doing asanas, fat also starts reducing automatically. All the organs and cells of the body become active, due to which immunity and health are available. 

Asanas strengthen the nervous system

Asanas play an important role in strengthening and activating the nervous system. Nerves have both types of channels of knowledge and action channels. The Asanas puts a special kind of pressure on them, due to which their hesitation is released. This makes them strong and active. Their activism and activity generate power. The nervous system extends from the brain to the toe. All nerves are affected by Asana, hence the usefulness of Asana cannot be denied from the point of view of health practice.

Flexibility in joints

From the point of view of spiritual practice, flexibility in the joints is highly required. The top of the spinal cord and flexibility in the joints of the spinal cord increases the activity in the energy sources there. From the point of view of health and spiritual practice, it is very important for the spinal cord (Sushumna) to be healthy. Asanas have a direct effect on the spinal cord. The digestive system becomes active by the activity of asana. There is the proper secretion of its chemical substances.

Asanas and its impact on blood circulation

Asanas also have an effect on blood circulation. The movement of the blood veins is relieved by this asana, due to which the blood circulation in them starts smoothly. Along with this, every organ is nourished and impure elements are avoided.

Asana helps reduce stress

Along with intellectual development, the physical environment has put the person in a stressful situation today. The disease of blood pressure and anaemia is increasing day by day. Yogasana is an easy means to control it. The method discovered in the different Yogasanas, where the person becomes stress-free, also controls the blood pressure and its retardation.

Positive impacts on lungs

Breathing is also specially used in the asanas, due to which the function of the lungs is completed. It has an effect on heart and blood purification

Yoga poses (Asanas) affect endocrine glands

Asana also has an effect on our endocrine glands. It controls the body and emotions. There is a special type of secretion from these glands, which are called hormones. This helps in the development of body, mind and consciousness centres. Physiology has minutely researched the functions and tendencies of the glands. It has been known which glands control which emotions and functions. Asana-Bandha and Yogic-Kriyas are used to control them.

Purpose of Yoga Asanas (Yoga Poses)

Asana increases the beauty and beauty of the body. Along with this, there is also the achievement of mental peace and relaxed life. The purpose of doing asana is to make the machine of the body according to spiritual practice. Every part of the body should be active and healthy, it is expected both from the point of view of health and spiritual practice. It is indisputable that in the absence of the capacity of the body, speech and the mind are easily agitated. Restraint in action is necessary before restraint on speech and mind. For him, the asana process is a proper ritual.

Difference between yoga asana (yoga poses) and exercise

There is a fundamental difference between asana and exercise. Only some muscles and some parts of the body become strong through exercise or bodybuilding. Their athleticism once appears in the form of bulging muscles, but eventually, they begin to harden. By leaving them, the muscles become loose and they look ugly. Other types of exercises – wrestling, running, meetings etc. once affect the muscles of the body etc., but from the point of view of permanence, their final results are also not beautiful.

Asana is a unique science discovered by Yogis. Asana is not just raising and lowering the hands and feet, there is a whole science behind it. Which asana has what effect on which organ, why and for what that effect happens, experimental explanations of all these are available with researchers today!

Also Read: Scientific Importance of Yoga Asanas and Yogic Activities

5 essential rules and regulations of Yogasan (yoga poses)

1. People who have Ottorhea, weak eyes and weak hearts, should not do Shirshasana (Yoga Headstand).
2. People with pain in abdominal organs and spleen enlargement should not do Bhujangasana (cobra pose), Shalabhasana (locust pose) , or Dhanurasana (bow pose).
3. People suffering from constipation should not do Yogamudrasana, or Paschimottanasana (seated forward bend pose) for a long time.
4. Don’t do simple Uddiyan and Nauli Kriya in heart weakness.
5. Ujjayi Pranayama and Kumbhak should not be done in case of weakness of the lungs.
6. People who have high blood pressure should not do rigorous yogic exercises.

Precautions in Yoga practice

People are nowadays very eager to know, learn and practice the Yoga asanas. However, it is also advisable to start the practice under the supervision of an expert Yoga Guru only. There are major precautions in yoga asanas too.

Here we will discuss the precautions during yoga.

1. Feeling of Euphoria

The effect of Yogic practice should be a feeling of enthusiasm rather than a loss of energy and enthusiasm. There should be no feeling of tiredness in the body and mind.

2. Intermittent rest as needed

It is not necessary to do the entire sequence of exercises continuously. Yoga Nidra (shavasan) can be performed in between as per requirement.

3. Do not stress

Due to the force applied during the practice, there should be no stress on any system of the body.

4. Be aware

By being aware of the Asanas, and performing with self-confidence, the goal is fulfilled. While doing asanas, keep your mind alert and keep yourself engrossed in them. At least make a concrete form of that Asan with your mental eyes.

5. Practice Again

If the practice has stopped for a long time in between, then practice it again. You can go on top again in lesser time than before.

6. Rule of food after Yogasana

Do not eat food for half an hour and breakfast for ten minutes after yoga practice. Do not practice yoga for about one and a half hours after taking a small amount of drink and solid food or a full amount of drink.

8. Increase the time of asanas gradually

Gradually increase the practice of asanas. Instead of doing more asanas in less time, try to increase the time of asanas.

9. Breathing rule

Normally take deep and long breaths in the asana. Breathe normally when bending and twisting the body. Exhale keeping your body straight. Try to increase the exhalation at that time. Increase

10. What is the correct sequence of Asana Pranayama?

Do pranayama after asanas.