Asana-Yoga Poses

a) Traditional Definition of Asana according to Sage Patanjali 

(Yoga Sutra 2:46- Sthira Sukham Asanam)

Sage Patanjali describes asana as a form of seated meditative postures. Meditative posture can be in the form of seated lotus (Padmasana) or seated cross legged position (Sukhasana). He had stated the proper qualities for the physical body in such seated posture. These two fundamental qualities are 1) Sthira in Sanskrit means steady , motionless and stillness. 2) Sukham I’m Sanskrit means comfortable and at ease.

瑜伽宗師，帕坦加利在（瑜伽經2:46）所描述的「Sthira Sukham Asanam」意思是指，當身體在一個坐姿時（梵文：Asana）修練者著兩個重要的條件，(一）是梵文所提及的「Sthira」意思是平穩，不動；(二）是梵文所提及的「Sukham 」意思是覺得舒適同安逸。

b) Proper attitude and effort towards performing asana in order to pertain long term effort of concentration.

(Yoga Sutra 2:47 Prayatna Shaithilya Ananda Samapattibhyam)

Sage Patanjali explains both the kind of effort( Sanskrit: Prayatna) to be in such seated meditative pose is to be in a relax way; loosen up and non forceful (Sanskrit: Shaithilya) in order to fulfil the ultimate goal of long term concentration. (Sanskrit: Ananta Sampattibhyam)

瑜伽宗師帕坦加利在（瑜伽經2:47）所描述的「Prayatna Shaithilya Ananta Samapattibhyam」；修練者當進入坐姿時應該帶著一種放鬆；不強迫的心態；付出一種忍耐而放鬆的心態。如梵文：Prayatna Shaithilya所描述的一種放鬆而忍耐的付出態度；而能夠達到修練冥想坐姿的目標。如梵文：Ananta Samapattibhyam所描述一樣。目標就是達到長遠，永久的精神集中。

c) Chris’s Descriptions on Asana

The term「Asana」from Yoga Sutra 2:46 can be also be extended to the practice of Hatha Yoga poses. Hatha Yoga poses can be practiced with different variations such as 

1.  Standing poses 

• Balancing poses

• Seated poses 

• Backbend poses 

Practice of Hatha Yoga poses requires to pertain the principles of steady, still and comfortable together with the proper attitude of effort comes with the sense of ease as well as relaxing mood.

Chris認為哈達瑜伽式子的修練也須要具備瑜伽經2:47所提及的正確付出同態度。這就是「放鬆而忍耐的付出」而能達到長遠的精神集中。


Chris認為Asana 的意思，也可以由帕坦加利所描述的坐姿伸延到哈達瑜伽式子的鍛練。哈達瑜伽式子的類別可以分為：

• 站立式子

• 平衡式子

• 坐地式子

• 後彎腰式子