Asana
Asana is the physical practise of yoga. It is what we in the West generally think of when we imagine yoga, although in fact it is only one of eight parts (limbs) of the yoga path. According to the classical yogic philosophy, one practises yoga in order to free the body from stiffness to allow for complete flow of energy or lifeforce, known in yoga as prana.
Hence asanas are not gymnastics moves or athletic feats but particular practises designed to cultivate and enhance physiological wellness. Yoga for the Mind uses asana for the following reasons:
1) Asana practises help to strengthen the body and add flexibility. When the body is at ease the mind is usually more at ease as well. Asana practice promotes better blood flow, replenishes the internal organs, removes blockages in the body, strengthens muscles, aids in flexibility, reduces breath rate, increases lung capacity, improves balance, and helps us to better understand our bodies.
2) Asanas can have specific affects on the body and nervous system, which translate into changes in how we feel. For example David Shapiro conducted a study on asana practise at UCLA and found that backbends increase positive feeling.(For more information on this study please visit www.ucla.edu.)
We also know that forward bends help to relax the system and calm us down. Alternatively, balancing poses help us to increase focus and develop concentration.
Balancing requires a part of the brain known as the cerebellum, new research suggests that the cerebellum is influenced during depression. By practicing balancincg poses one is able to support the proper functioning of this part of the brain.
Although we need more scienitific evidence to vouch for the specific changes that take place in the brain and the nervous system with yoga practise, we do have some insight already thanks to a hand full of researchers scattered mostly in the USA and India. Additionally, we can rely on the evidence of experience as yoga is an ancient practise, one in which personal verification has always been paramount.
3) We can learn to hold asanas that are challenging while breathing in a controlled manner, this teaches us to better manage stress in daily life. It is much easier to train ourselves how to relax under low level physical stress than it is to relax under high lever emotional stress. However, if we practise in this way we can translate our skills into daily life little by little...leading to profound transformation in how we manage difficulty.
4) While in asana we develop a deeper relationship with the body. When we are depressed and anxious we often ignore the body and it suffers increasing our pain. Through asana we nurture the mind body relationship leading to increased well-being
5) When we do physical practise the mind is brought to the present moment through the body. When we are in a challenging pose it is difficult to think of something other than the pose. In this way the mind comes back to the here and now.
The asana practise taught by Yoga for the Mind draws on research and personal experience to provide optimum benefit to the body and the mind. The sequencing is very specific and provides a strong basis for physiological transformation.
