The Hindi poet
Charandasa replies in a simple way. There are 84 million postures and these are
nothing but the pattern of sitting of different species, means the different species
using the different posture, for their comfortable sitting which are known as
Asanas. In the beginning the postures which were used for prolonged sitting performing
the spiritual practices like Sandhya, meditation, pooja and fire ceremony were
known as Asanas. The same is quoted in Brahmasutras-asinah sambhavat; also in
Shrimad Bhagawat Gita-sarnam kayasirogrivarn
But the approach changed in
due course of time. The position of innumerable postures were considered to be
innumerable Postures (Asanas) as referred by Goraksa Nath in 10th Century A.D.
But in my opinion the sculpture, discovered in Mexico dated 3500 B.C. clearly
tells us that Hathayogic Asanas were popular even in that period. If we cannot
go back to the history, due to our own limitations then we cannot say that in
ancient India Hathayogic Asanas were not popular. Therefore we take it for granted
that Asanas are that part of our practices which not only taught the humanity
how to sit, but also taught how to be healthy and thus leading to open the new
channel through which the pranic current could flow easily into Susumna. This
is why the wellknown author of Guhya Samaja Tantra Asanga (3rd century A.D.) wrote
- "yada na sidhyate bodhi hatha yogena sadhayet," (if you cannot achieve
bodhi through Buddhist means try to practise through Hathayoga). Thus it is very
clear that Hathayoga never lost its importance. We get the answer that, the practice
of Asana, is necessary to teach us how to sit erect keeping ourselves healthy
and channelising the current of prana towards the final goal of spirituality.
Today Asanas have another responsibility and importance
from the point of view of physical health.Here I do not want to say anything of
my own to quote my teacher Swami Kuvalayanandaji:-
"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."
Let us see
how?
(i, ii) Elements necessary for nourishment of tissues are carried to
them by blood. Such a supply depends not only on the quality and quantity of food
but also on the power of digestion and absorption of the digestive system. This,
and the circulatory system can be kept in efficient condition through cultural
poses. The gentle and automatic massage of the digestive organs required for the
smooth functioning of digestive system can be more effective only when the abdominal
muscles are strong and elastic. Bhujangasana, Salabhasana Yoga-Mudra Pascimatana,
Vakrasana and Ardha-Matsyendrasana, etc.make the abdominal muscles strong and
elastic. They are also helpful in keeping the abdominal organs in their respective
places and effect in to remove the waste materials properly. Thus the second condition
of human health also is fulfilled. Bhujangasana, Salabhasana and Dhanurasana are
fine stretching postures for the front abdominal muscles and serve as contracting
postures for the back muscles.Yoga-Mudra, Pascimatana and Halasana require vigorous
contraction of the front abdominal muscles and the back muscles experience a very
healthy stretch. Uddiyana gives a vertical massage and Nauli gives a lateral massage
to the abdominal organs.
Circulatory system is vitally connected
as regards to the nourishment of the tissues. Yogic poses render a very good help
in the following manner. The contraction and relaxation of the heart cause the
circulation of blood throughout the body. The heart is made up of the strongest
muscular-stuff, but it can always be made healthier by means of proper Yogic exercises.
For example, Uddiyana and Nauli raise the diaphragm so high in the thoracic cavity
that they give a very good massage from below to the perpetually working heart.
In these exercises the heart is alternatively subjected to a decrease in pressure
and thus gets an opportunity of building a healthier muscle. Further, it is through
veins that the impure blood is brought back and there are such troubles as vericose
veins etc., which cause obstructions in blood circulation, However such troubles
can be got rid of by practising Sirsasana, Sarvangasana and Viparitakarani. In
these exercises, the body is placed in upside-down position which enables veins
to drain themselves into the heart without any exertion. Further, the veins get
a short relief which helps in both maintaining and recovering their health.
Another
important element of nourishment is oxygen. Practice of Asanas keeps the respiratory
system in an efficient condition. Breathing activity depends on the health of
lungs and respiratory muscles. Salabhasana and Mayurasana make them strong and
elastic. Because Salabhasana requires deep inhalation and retention of breath
for a few seconds, the pressure forces air into every cell of the lungs and opens
it out for active work. The deep expiration necessary in Uddiyana and Nauli builds
the respiratory muscles which are necessary for adequate supply of oxygen to the
circulatory system. Saravngasana, Viparitakarani, Matsyasana, Jihva-Bandha and
Sirnha- Mudra have been found useful in the treatment of tonsilitis, adenoids
and chronic nasal catarrh.
Human health depends not only on
the adequate supply of nourishing elements but also on the internal secretions
of the endocrine glands. In preserving the health of these glands just mentioned
above, Yogic exercises have been found to be excellent exercises for the thyroid
also. The pituitary and the pineal glands are best taken care of by Sirsasana.
So far as the adrenals are concerned, Bhujangasana, Dhanurasana, Uddiyana and
Nauli are capable of preserving their health. For making the testes and ovaries
healthy, Sarvangasana, Uddiyana and Nauli have been observed to have great efficacy.
(iii) The third condition of the health is the healthy functioning
of the nerve-connections. The network of nerves is such that there is not a single
tissue in the human body that has not got its own nerve-connection. It is mainly
because of their nerve-connections that the tissues are able to perform their
work. Thus the tissues will remain healthy and active only if the nerves connected
with them are in a healthy condition, Sirsasana and Viparitakarani, by sending
a richer blood supply to the brain, ensure its health and also the health of the
cranial nerves supplying the different organs of senses. All the Yogic poses are
excellent spinal exercises. Uddiyana and Nauli operating through the diaphragm
have a special value in promoting the health of the spinal cord and also of the
sympathetic cords. Salabhasana Ardha-Salabhasana and the first part of Sarvangasana
and Viparitakaran i take care of the nerves of the lower extremities, whereas
the part played by the upper extremeties, in the techniques of Salabhasana, Mayurasana,
Sarvangasana, Viparitakarani, etc.preserve the health of the nerves. Thus Asanas
are found capable of preserving the health not only of the brain and the spinal
and sympathetic cords but also of all the cranial and spinal nerves spreading
throughout the body.
Bodily activites depend also upon skeletal
muscles. So far as the thoracic and abdominal muscles are concerned, Yogic poses
do train them, but they are not calculated to develop strong muscles for the arms
or the legs. However, ordinary muscular needs of a civil life are entirely satisfied
by the Yogic poses.
Every meditative pose requires the spine
to be kept erect. This is with a view to eliminate the possiblity of the compression
of the abdominal viscera and also to free the mind from the burden of the body
and not with a view to keep it in its proper place and allow it to function properly.
The second physiological feature of the meditative
postures is their capacity to keep a richer blood supply playing about the pelvic
region and thus to tone up the coccygeal and sacral nerves. This increased blood
supply and consequent toning up of the nerves are to some extent responsible for
the awakening of Kundalini, of course when other Yogic exercises are coordinated.
The third physiological feature is the minimum production of
carbon-dioxide. It is because meditative poses involve very little muscular activity.
In such a physiological condition both the lungs and the heart have a tendency
to slow down their speed and when these poses are maintained for a considerably
longer time, breathing becomes so shallow and the heart beats in so controlled
manner that all the activities of the Yogic student appear to have come to a stand-still.
Such being the state of the physiological condition of his body, the Yogic student
finds himself free first to direct his mind inward to fathom its own mysteries,
then to isolate himself even from his mental equipment and stand face to face
with Reality-ultimately to be one with that.
We have in brief
seen the effect of Asanas on our body and mind, the total personality of ours
is related with our actions. Hence, it implies, if we want to stay healthy then
Asanas are necessary. Patanjali has very rightly said "Sthira sukham asanam.
" That is stability and feeling of well being are the results of Asanas.
Sutra can also mean that the posture which is comfortable and stable is an Asana.
If the above is the description, then lying down is most comfortable, but can
it be called an Asana? Sri Svatmarama has clarified it in Hatha-Pradipika - "Kuryattadasanam
sthairyamarogyam cangalaghavarn." This implies that Asanas should result
in stability and absence of disease, as well as contributing to lightness of the
body and feeling of well being. If this was not the case Asana will not remain
Asana and would be an exercise. Hence the basic question arises how to do Asanas
and Maharshi Patanjali has explained it very beautifully - 'Prayatnasaithilya
nantasamapattibhyam.' It means, while doing Asanas, effort should be minimum.
As regards the mind it should not waver but should be applied to the infinite
or on our breath, so as to reduce tension. This is the direction proposed by Patanjali.
It is clear that if Asanas are performed as exercises, they will be more tiring,
which will increase the quantity of "Rajas" and hence the body unstable
and the mind fickle. Kama (Sex), anger, greed, attachment, enmity etc., will increase.
Hence the important point in the way of eradication of these two and making the
mind and body free from all diseases. Hence the solution lies in knowing how to
do all the Asanas. In popular language it is said that haste is waste; the same
is applicable to the Asanas. This saying has to be remembered. By effort and stability
Maharshi Patanjali means the minimum use of force. Let the Asanas happen, doing
should be minimum. Whenever the question of "doing" arises, instantly,
voluntary force comes into action. But when we talk of "happening" we
ourselves become the observer in order to see what happens and this feeling forms
a positive attitude in us. Because of this attitude the physical tensions are
minimised and the mind tends to a void. While doing Asanas if our mind is let
free it will take us anywhere and this will lead to tension at conscious level.
If this is the case the whole motive of Asanas comes to an end. Hence, while doing
Asanas, if we apply our mind to infinite or void then the physical and mental
tensions are minimised.
