Hatha Yoga Asanas

Yoga asanas are a part of Hatha Yoga.



It is, however, is just one of several different paths to salvation. Hatha Yoga – the physical aspect of Yoga – largely consists of asana practice and has been much popularized in the West.



This, subsequently, has brought about the misconception that Yoga only has to do with asana practice.

In Sanskrit asana is literally means "seat".



The plural of asana is used to describe yoga poses. In this context, seat refers just not to the body’s physical posture, but also to the position of the spirit with relation to divinity. Very often this is also called the "one seat", by both Hindu Yogis and Buddhist monks.

With reference to the practice of Yoga, the modern usage of the word "asana" usually speaks of a physical position or pose. In his Yoga Sutras, the sage Patanjali literally defines "asana" as sitting meditation. He also calls meditation the path to Moksha, self-realization. So, "asana", means both simple poses as well as a path to self-realization.

Even though the word "asana" initially referred to sitting meditation, down the years its scope has evolved to cover a great multiplicity of body poses. These poses have their roots in animals and natural vegetation. However, in the end they are all intended to lead us to the possibility of settling down comfortably in meditation.