Asanas

1
Asanas

• Yogacharya Vishwas Mandlik
• Yoga Vidya Gurukul
• www.yogapoint.com

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Asana Yogic Concept I

• Yoga Evolution
• Yoga
• ? ? ? ? ?
• ? ? ? ? ?
• Positive Level
• ? ? ? ? ?
• Normal Level
• ? ? ? ? ?
• Negative Level

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Asana Yogic Concept I

• Isotonic movements of muscles tone is constant
  length changes i.e. exercise
• Isometric movements of muscles tone is changing
  length is constant i.e. Yoga Asana
• Red muscle fibres are active during isometric
  movements they consume less oxygen
• White muscle fibres are active during isotonic
  movements they consume excess oxygen
• Oxygen consumption increases during exercise
• Oxygen consumption decreases during Yoga Asana

4
Asana Yogic Concept I

• Yoga Asana is not an exercise,
• but Yoga Asana is Relaxation
• Action Exercise Yoga Asana
• Movements Dynamic Steady
• Movements Speedy Slow
• Movements Isotonic Isometric
• Heart Rate Increases Decreases
• Respiratory Rate Increases Decreases
• Blood Pressure Increases Decreases
• B.M.R Increases Decreases

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Asana Yogic Concept I

• Asana does not mean EXERCISE
• ASANA means POSTURE
• Asana means EXISTENCE
• EXSITENCE without doing anything!
• There is no movement in ASANA
• A steady posture is ASANA
• Hence the definition
• STHIR SUKHAM ASANAM
• 246
• Steady comfortable posture is Asana

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Asana Yogic Concept I

• Asana is a posture without movements. But to
  attain this posture movements are essential.
• Performing the Asana Pre-Position
• Attaining the Asana posture with movements
• Asana Posture Maintaining with no movement
• Releasing the Asana posture with movements
• Note
• Step No. 2 is Asana
• Step No. 1 3 is not Asana

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Asana Yogic Concept I

• A steady comfortable posture is Asana.
  However movements are essential to attain the
  posture.
• The movements must be very slow
• The movements must be under control
• The movement must be accompanied with a
• correct breathing method

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Asana Yogic Concept I

• STHIR SUKHAM ASANAM
• 246
• Steady comfortable posture is Asana
• Steadiness comfort must be in
• ?Physical body (mainly muscle)
• ?Mental Condition
• Steadiness comfort are also interdependent

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Asana Yogic Concept I

• PratyatanaShaithilya AnantaSamapattibhyam
• 247
• Relaxation with efforts Concentration on
  Infinite
• Tato Dwandanabhighatah
• 248

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Asana Yogic Concept II

• Definition of Asana
• Sthir Sukham Asanam 246
• Steady comfortable posture
• ____________________________
• ? ?
• Without Movement With Movement
• ? ?
• slow movements fast
  movements
• Prayatnashaithilya Anantsmapattibhyam 247
• Relaxation
• Concentrating the mind

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Asana Yogic Concept II

• Asanas can be practiced on the following
• Levels
• 0) With fast movements without steadiness
• 1) With slow movements but without steadiness
• 2) With slow movements with steadiness for a
  certain period
• 3) With slow movements with steadiness for a
  certain period a relaxation of the muscles
• 4) With slow movements with steadiness for a
  certain period, relaxation of the muscles
  concentrating the mind on any organ of the
  self-body
• 5) With slow movements with steadiness for a
  certain period, relaxation of all the muscles
  concentrating the mind on infinity

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Asana Yogic Concept II

• Level 0
• With fast movements without steadiness
• ?This is non-yogic level
• ?This is a type of exercise
• ?Different muscles will be exercised and will be
  toned accordingly
• ?This level will tone up the muscles properly
• ?This will strengthen the different muscles
• ?Functions of joints will improve
• Note This will not yield the results as
  mentioned by Patanjali

13
Asana Yogic Concept II

• Level 1
• With slow movements but without steadiness
• ?This type of practice of asana is useful for
  persons suffering from joint problems e.g.
  Arthritis, frozen shoulder joint pains.
• ?This type of practice of asana is useful for the
  physically weak
• ?This type of practice of asana will improve the
  blood circulation to different muscles joints

14
Asana Yogic Concept II

• Level - 2
• With slow movements with steadiness for a
  certain period
• ?This type of practice of asana will have the
  advantages of level 1 also
• ?When posture is maintained for a certain time
  period, the stretching contracting of the
  muscles improves the supply of blood to those
  organs benefited in that asana
• ?The nerve supply to those organs will also
  improve

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Asana Yogic Concept II

• Level 3
• with slow movements with steadiness for
• a certain period relaxation of the muscles.
• ?This type of practice of Asana will have the
  advantages of level 12 also
• ?When the muscles are relaxed, the stretch will
  be transferred to the internal organs. These
  organs are also made up of muscles. These
  muscles receive a stretch.
• ?This action improves the function of those
  organs.
• ?This action stimulates the blood supply to those
  organs provides more oxygen glucose.

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Asana Yogic Concept II

• Level 4
• With slow movements with steadiness for
• a certain period concentrating the mind
• on any organ of the self-body
• ?This type of practice of asana will have the
  advantages of level 2 3 also
• ?By concentrating the mind on any particular
  organ the mental energy will be provided to it.
• ?As a result that particular organ will improve
  its function
• ?We can concentrate on
• - Pancreas for diabetes
• - Liver for liver problems
• - Heart for heart disease etc

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Asana Yogic Concept II

• Level 5
• With slow movements with steadiness for a
  certain
• period concentrating the mind on Infinity
• ?The aspirant who wants to progress to higher
  levels can practice some of the asanas at this
  level
• ?This level can only be achieved after practicing
  the prior levels
• ?This type of practice will lead to control the
  mind
• ?The practitioner can reach beyond the dualities
  of life as explained by Patanjali