What are"ASANAs?
"Asana" means "a position in which
one feels comfortable"-'Sthirasukhamasanam.'
Asanas are a kind of exercise by regular practice
of which the body stays healthy and hardy and many
diseases are cured. But asanas are not prescribed for the
general cure of diseases: only those diseases which create
trouble in the path of meditation may be cured with the help
of specific asanas, so that sadhana may more easily be done.
The relation between the physical body
and the mind is very close. Mental expression is brought
about through the vrttis, and the predominance of the vrttis
depends on different glands of the body. There are many
glands in the body and from each there is a secretion of
a particular hormone. If there is any defect in the secretion
of hormones or any defect in a gland, certain vrttis
become excited. For this reason, we find that in spite of
having a sincere desire to follow the moral code, many persons
cannot do so; they understand that they should do meditation,
but they cannot concentrate their minds because their minds
become extroverted due to the external excitement of this
or that propensity. If a person wants to control the excitement
of these propensities, he or she must rectify the defects
of the glands. Asannos help the seidhakn to a large
extent in this task, so asanas are an important part of
sadhana.
The same asanas are not necessary
for everyone. There are more than 50,000 asanas:
among them a few are named here which are most necessary
for the path of meditation. The acarya will teach
particular asanas to a person according to his or her need.
There are many asanas whose forms
are similar to those of different animals, and therefore
they are called by the names of those animals. And there
are many characteristics found in animals and birds which
are not commonly found in human beings: the physical structures
of those animals and birds are such as to further certain
glandular secretions, and as a result certain special qualities
are developed.
The tortoise can easily retract its extremities.
If human beings can also sit in that way for some time,
they can withdraw their minds from the external world. The
name of that posture
is Kurmakasana(tortoise posture).
