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# Basic Asanas | |
Cover image | |
# Contents | |
* Introduction | |
* Notes (important) | |
* Five minutes body warming movements before asana | |
* Asanas with their benefits | |
* A short programme | |
* What I want to bring about in the material world... | |
# Introduction | |
The Mother opening the Asana Section in the Playground Gymnasium on | |
21st February, 1953. | |
Photo of The Mother on 21st February, 1953 | |
The practice of asanas forms part of the very ancient science of | |
Hathayoga and consists of a number of poses which, apart from their | |
yogic or psychological value, promote health, organic vigour and | |
physical fitness. That this, system has stood the test of time to | |
the present day indicates that it possesses some exceptional merit. | |
In the introduction to his Synthesis of Yoga Sri Aurobindo says, 'The | |
chief processes of Hathayoga are asana and pranayama. By its | |
numerous Asanas or fixed postures it first cures the body of that | |
restlessness which is a sign of its inability to contain without | |
working them off in action and movement the vital forces poured into | |
it from the universal Life-Ocean, gives to it an extraordinary | |
health, force and suppleness and seeks to liberate it from the habits | |
by which it is subjected to ordinary physical Nature and kept within | |
the narrow bounds of her normal operations. ... By various subsidiary | |
but elaborate processes the Hathayogin next contrives to keep the | |
body free from all impurities and the nervous system unclogged for | |
those exercises of respiration which are his most important | |
instruments.' [SABCL vol. 20, p.29] | |
Asanas are divided broadly into two groups--one, the meditative | |
poses, for psychological development and the other for physical | |
health and fitness. In this paper we shall mention the latter. | |
It must be explained at the outset that asanas should not be confused | |
with contortionism of boneless acrobatic feats of the circus type. | |
Though asanas of the advanced variety are difficult to perform, the | |
simple poses can be practised by anybody with very beneficial | |
results. But it is very important to note that like all other | |
sciences, it should be studied and practised under an expert or else | |
it can be dangerous and result in more harm than good. | |
In the body, it is the blood which most influences the glands and | |
vital organs and maintains their efficiency by feeding them, | |
repairing worn tissues and by carrying away the waste and toxins they | |
produce. | |
In the modern system of physical exercise this is done by the action | |
of the muscles and by giving progressive work to the heart and lungs. | |
But in the system of asanas this is done by adopting such poses as | |
would direct the blood to the particular gland or vital organ where | |
it is required and so improve its efficiency and capacity. | |
There has long been a controversy as to which is the better system | |
for the body and there is a tendency nowadays to decry the ancient | |
system of asanas as outmoded and obsolete. But though asanas may not | |
make one very strong physically or build big muscles, they give sound | |
physical health and so condition the body in endurance and resistance | |
to fatigue that they can give a good basis for the practice of all | |
sorts of games, sports and other physical exercises. Moreover, their | |
value in corrective and curative exercises is exceptional. | |
Hence in this age of synthesis, this ancient system should find its | |
place side by side with the modern practice in any national scheme of | |
physical education. And it is indeed now being introduced in many | |
progressive institutions as part of physical training, at home and | |
abroad. | |
Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya | |
Director of Physical Education, | |
Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry. | |
# Notes (important) | |
* Before starting the programme, it is advisable to get yourself | |
examined. by a doctor to ascertain that there is no possibility of | |
any adverse effects on your health due to any or all of the asanas. | |
* Select a quiet and well ventilated place. Fix a time when you | |
are not in a hurry and are not tired; be punctual and regular. | |
Avoid the period immediately after of less than half an hour before | |
a big meal. You may bathe just before the asanas but never less | |
than half an hour after. Wear clothes that will not hinder the | |
free movement of your limbs. | |
* You may, if time permits, do asanas in the morning and other | |
types of exercises in the evening; or do them on alternate days. | |
Whatever you do, do not mix asanas with other forms of exercises in | |
a single session. You may take one day off in a week for rest. | |
* The final poses of all the asanas have been shown. In some cases | |
the initial poses also. Where there are bilateral actions, left | |
side and right side actions have been shown separately. Slowly | |
take the final pose in each asana and remain relaxed. Never apply | |
force. | |
* Try to do the asanas as correctly as possible, even if you stay | |
in a pose for only a few seconds. In that case, make two or three | |
attempts of shorter duration. Start with the timings with which | |
you feel comfortable, then slowly and gradually increase the time | |
to reach the maximum given in the text. | |
* Always concentrate. fully on the area where you feel the maximum | |
resistance in each asana. | |
* Never hold your breath. Breathe normally all the time. | |
* Relax (in Shavasana) for about 15 to 20 seconds between two | |
asanas. | |
* Time may be announced after a certain interval, so that one may | |
know how one is doing and how long the asana will take to fmish. | |
* The whole programme will take about one hour to finish. | |
Those interested may contact the P.E.D. Office, Sri Aurobindo Ashram. | |
# Five minutes body warming movements before asana | |
## 1. Spot running--30 seconds. | |
Illustration, Spot running | |
Run with easy steps, raise knees, bend elbows--pistonlike forward and | |
backward movements of arms from the shoulders. Breathe normally. | |
## 2. Breathing with hand movements--6 repetitions. | |
Illustration, Breathing with hand movements | |
Stand feet together, head down, arms stretched down in front close to | |
the body, backs of palms touching. Raise arms overhead while | |
breathing in, rise on toes, look up. Lower arms sideways down while | |
breathing out. | |
## 3. Trunk bending forward and backward--6 reps. | |
Illustration, Trunk bending forward and backward | |
Stand with feet comfortably apart, back of wrists on the lower back. | |
Bend forward and down while breathing out. Straighten trunk and bend | |
backward while breathing in--take support of wrists on the back. | |
Keep legs straight throughout. | |
## 4. Trunk bending from side to side--6 reps each side. | |
Illustration, Trunk bending from side to side | |
Stand with feet apart, arms along thighs. Bend trunk laterally to | |
the right, keep right arm straight, bend left elbow, left hand coming | |
up to left shoulder, fist half closed. Straigthen up. Repeat | |
movement on the left side with opposite arm movements. Breathe in | |
while bending on one side and breathe out while bending on the other. | |
Do not raise heels while bending. | |
## 5. Trunk turning from side to side--6 reps each side. | |
Illustration, Trunk turning from side to side | |
Stand with feet apart, arms sideways, palms down. Turn trunk and | |
head to the right, keep arms fixed from the shoulders. Breathe in | |
while turning to one side and breathe out while turning to the other. | |
Do not move feet. | |
## 6. Quarter squats with hand movements--12 reps. | |
Illustration, Quarter squats | |
Feet slightly apart, toes slightly turned out. Bend knees over toes | |
to lower upper body by about 3 to 4 inches, swing arms to vertical | |
from front while breathing in and rising on toes. Straighten the | |
knees and swing arms down and back from front to come to normal | |
position while breathing out. | |
## 7. Pulling alternate knee to chest--6 reps. | |
Illustration, Pulling alternate knee to chest | |
Stand at attention. Raise one knee as high as you can, hold it with | |
both hands and pull it as close to chest as possible while breathing | |
in. Breathe out as you release and lower the Repeat with the other | |
leg. | |
# Asanas with their benefits | |
## 1. Vrikshasana--1 minute | |
Illustration, Vrikshasana | |
Stand erect, feet together. Raise arms sideways to overhead, rise on | |
toes, stretch fully, knees straight, abdomen pulled in. | |
Benefits: Stretches the muscles and joints, and prepares the body... | |
for the various asanas. Also improves the general balance of the | |
body. | |
## 2. Ardhachandrasana--1/2 minute | |
Illustration, Ardhachandrasana | |
Stand erect, feet together. Raise together. Bend as far backward as | |
comfortably possible, knees straight, arms close to ears and straight. | |
Benefits: Perfects the control and balance of the body and gives it a | |
feeling of lightness. Improves the spinal flexibility and | |
strengthens the hips. Increases appetite, enhances energy and raises | |
vitality. Enables muscular athletes to tense and strengthen their | |
abdominal muscles in the stretched condition, thus preventing what is | |
known as "Athlete's abdominal cramps". | |
## 3. Padahastasana--1 minute | |
Illustration, Padahastasana | |
Stand erect, feet together. Raise arms overhead. Bend down, head | |
between arms, knees straight, hold ankles to bring head as close to | |
knees as possible. | |
Benefits: Lightens the body, removes fat and increases digestive | |
power - a very energising posture. Ensures greater blood supply to | |
the head, removes fatigue due to excessive brain work. | |
## 4. Trikonasana--1 minute each side | |
Illustration, Trikonasana | |
Stand with feet well apart, body weight equally on both feet, knees | |
straight. Raise right arm sideways up touching right ear, palm | |
facing left. Bend trunk laterally to the left--don't push abdomen | |
forward or hips backward, right arm straight and as close to head as | |
possible. Don't take support with left hand. | |
Repeat same movements with left arm and bend to the right. | |
Benefits: Gives a good lateral bending to the spine and helps to keep | |
it flexible and healthy. | |
## 5. Tribhujasana--1 minute each side | |
Illustration, Tribhujasana | |
Stand with feet well apart, body weight equally on both feet, arms | |
sideways, palms down. Bend forward--back and arms horizontal, palms | |
down, head up. Twist trunk to right, left hand touching of close to | |
right foot, right arm in line with right leg, look at fingers of | |
right hand. Hold for 1 minute. Come to previous position. | |
## 6. Utkatasana--2 minutes | |
Illustration, Utkatasana | |
Stand erect, feet slightly apart, toes slightly turned out. Bend | |
from the knees (as in sitting on a chair), knees slightly out and | |
vertically over toes) back straight, arms stretched forward | |
(horizontal and parallel), palms down, head up. | |
Benefits: Strengthens the leg muscles, lightens the body and brings | |
it under control. A special feature: its practice both strengthens | |
the knee joints and ensures a section there from which the cartilages | |
receive nutrition to keep them mobile. | |
## 7. Sarvangasana--2 minutes | |
Illustration, Sarvangasana | |
Lie on your back, arms alongside. Raise both legs together--taking | |
support of hands on the hips and elbows on the ground. Straighten | |
the body--feet, knees, hips and back form one vertical column from | |
the base of the neck to the tip of the toes, feet stretched, toes | |
pointed, chin pressed against the chest. Normal breathing. | |
Benefits: Promotes healthy secretion of the thyroid leading to | |
healthy functioning of the circulatory, respiratory, alimentary and | |
genito-urinary systems. Keeps the spine flexible preventing the | |
bones from early ossification. Supplies large quantities of blood to | |
the spinal roots of the nerves, thereby giving them sufficient | |
nourishment. | |
## 8. Matsyasana--1/2 minute | |
Illustration, Matsyasana | |
Sit with legs as in Padmasana--knees bent, feet on opposite thighs, | |
heels towards the abdomen. Lie on your back. Placing hands near the | |
head for support lift your back above the ground, keep the top of | |
your head on the ground over a padded surface, e.g. a towel. Keep | |
your hands on your feet. Normal breathing. | |
Benefits: Makes the neck flexible and strong, increases the size of | |
the rib cage, widens the windpipe and thus helps deep breathing. | |
Relieves the neck after Sarvangasana. | |
## 9. Pashchimottanasana--2 minutes | |
Illustration, Pashchimottanasana back | |
Illustration, Pashchimottanasana forward | |
Lie on your back, legs straight, arms overhead, hands together, palms | |
facing up. Sit up, take hands overhead, back straight, then bend | |
forward to hold the big toes, head between arms and touching the | |
knees. | |
Benefits: Reduce abdominal fat. Removes wind from the intestines and | |
increases appetite. | |
## 10. Nauasana--1/2 minute | |
Illustration, Nauasana | |
Lie on your stomach, legs straight, toe pointed, arms stretched | |
overhead, hands together, palms on the ground. Raise legs (knees | |
straight), arms (hands together), chest and head to form a boat like | |
arch. Do not hold your breath. | |
Benefits: Improves appetite. Tones up the muscles of the chest and | |
dissolve abdominal fat. | |
## 11. Halasan--2 minutes | |
Illustration, Halasan back | |
Illustration, Halasan raised | |
Lie on your back, arms alongside. Raise legs as in Sarvangasana (you | |
may take help of hands on the hips), then lower them overhead, knee | |
straight, ankles stretched, toes pointed and touching the ground. | |
Arms stay on ground as in beginning, palms on the ground. The | |
posture resembles the shape of a plough. | |
Benefits: Makes the spine flexible, creates energy, and increases the | |
supply of blood to the muscles of the back. Aids the functioning of | |
the thyroid and thymus glands thus helping retain the individual's | |
youthful physical characteristics for a longer period. | |
## 12. Salabhasana--1/2 minute | |
Illustration, Salabhasana | |
Lie on your stomach, hands under thighs, palms up, forehead on the | |
ground, feet together, toes pointed. Raise legs as high as you can, | |
knees straight. Do not take support of your hands. | |
Benefits: Helps remove all sorts of muscular pains in the lower | |
region of the back. Makes the lumber vertebrae flexible. | |
## 13. Janushirasan--2 minutes each side | |
Illustration, Janushirasan | |
Sit with legs stretched out in front, back straight. Place right | |
foot against left thigh, heel as close to groin as possible. Raise | |
arms overhead, hands together, thumbs locked. Bend down to hold left | |
foot or toes from both sides, head as close to left knee as possible. | |
Left knee should be straight, right knee on the ground. Repeat | |
asana with opposite leg positions. | |
Benefits: Increases digestive power. Helps cure urinary troubles. | |
## 14. Dhanurasana--1/2 minute | |
Illustration, Dhanurasana | |
Lie on your stomach. Bend knees, hold the ankles. Pull with your | |
hands and push with your legs, knees together, till the trunk forms | |
an arch with only the stomach on the ground.Look up. After releasing | |
the posture lie for a while in Shavasana. | |
Benefits: Reduces abdominal fat. The compressing of the spinal | |
column, pressing the nerves with the scapulae (the winged bones at | |
the back attached to the arms) minimises blood circulation while in | |
the asana. But when the pose is released a greater supply of blood | |
is ensured to those very regions increasing spinal flexibility and | |
definitely raising the vitality. | |
## 15. Yogamudra--2 minutes | |
Illustration, Yogamudra | |
Sit with legs as in Padmasana--knees bent, feet on opposite thighs, | |
heels towards the abdomen, back straight. Hold your hands behind the | |
back and on the ground, shoulders squared, head up. Slowly bend | |
forward to touch the ground with the forehead in front of the shins. | |
Don't raise hips. | |
Benefits: The purification of the blood is greatly enhanced by this | |
mudra. | |
## 16. Chakrasana--1/2 minute | |
Illustration, Chakrasana down | |
Illustration, Chakrasana up | |
Lie on your back. Bend knees, place feet apart and close to hips, | |
place hands overhead, palms beside ears and shoulders. Push with | |
hands and, without moving feet, raise trunk as high as possible to | |
curve the back into an arch, look on the ground between the hands. | |
Benefits: Builds a flexible back, stimulates the nerves of the spine. | |
One of the powerful back-bending postures. | |
## 17. Utthitapadasana--1 minute | |
Illustration, Utthitapadasana | |
Lie on your back, arms alongside. Raise legs to 45 degrees, knees | |
together, toes pointed. Keep lower back pressed to the ground. | |
Normal breathing as far as possible. | |
Benefits: Strengthens the abdominal muscles and the legs. Helps cure | |
indigestion. | |
## 18. Bhujangasana--1/2 minute | |
Illustration, Bhujangasana | |
Lie on your stomach, forehead on the ground, hands under shoulders. | |
Raise your upper body by the strength of the back muscles, head up. | |
Don't take help of the hands, they may remain on the ground or held | |
on the back over the hips. | |
Benefits: Helps in keeping the dorsal spine elastic and strong. | |
Backache due to overstrain can be thus relieved. Helps considerably | |
in reducing abdominal fat. | |
## 19. Pavanamuktasana Series--1/2 minute each | |
(right, left, and both legs--lying and sitting) | |
Illustration, Pavanamuktasana back | |
Illustration, Pavanamuktasana sitting, single leg | |
Illustration, Pavanamuktasana sitting, both legs | |
Lie on your back. Bend one knee, hold it close to the chest, other | |
leg straight, head on the ground. Repeat with the other knee. | |
Repeat with both knees. | |
Sit with legs stretched in front. Bring one foot close to hips, hug | |
the knee to chest, other leg stretched on the ground, back straight, | |
head normal. Repeat with the other knee. Repeat with both knees. | |
Benefits: Removes gas from the abdomen and reduces abdominal fat. | |
Increases the flexibility of the knees and hips. | |
## 20. Bhadrasana--2 minutes | |
Illustration, Bhadrasana | |
Sit holding feet together, heels as close to groin as possible, knees | |
as close to ground as possible. Back as erect as possible, head up, | |
chin down, normal breathing. | |
Benefits: Specially recommended for those suffering from urinary | |
disorders. The pelvis, the abdomen and the back get stimulated | |
through a plentiful supply of blood. Keeps the kidneys, the prostate | |
and the bladder healthy. | |
## 21. Ardhamatsyendrasana--2 minutes each side | |
Variation A | |
Illustration, Ardhamatsyendrasana, variation A, arm out | |
Illustration, Ardhamatsyendrasana, variation A, arm behind | |
Sit with legs stretched out in front. Bend right knee, place right | |
foot on left side of left knee, left leg straight. Hold left leg | |
with left hand--keep right knee on the left of left arm. Turn trunk | |
to right, look back over right shoulder, right hand on ground for | |
support or behind the back as close to left thigh as possible. | |
Repeat with left knee bent and trunk turning to left. | |
Variation B | |
Illustration, Ardhamatsyendrasana, variation B | |
Bend left knee, place left foot under right hip. Bend right knee, | |
place right foot on left side of left knee. Hold left knee or right | |
foot with the left hand - keep right knee on the left of left arm. | |
Turn trunk to right, look back over right shoulder, right hand on | |
ground or on waist as close to left thigh as possible. | |
Repeat with left knee bent and trunk turning to left. | |
Note: you may also hold hands through the gap below the raised knee. | |
See illustration. | |
Benefits: Increase the elasticity of the spine, and massages the | |
abdomen and internal organs. | |
## 22. Gomukhasana--2 minutes each side | |
Illustration, Gomukhasana | |
Sit with right knee on left, back and head erect, feet on either side | |
of the hips. Hold hands behind the back, right elbow pointing upward | |
and left elbow pointing downward. | |
Repeat with left knee on right, left elbow pointing upward. | |
Benefits: Helps proper functioning of the gonad glands. It can be | |
practised to a great advantage just before retiring by those | |
suffering from sleeplessness in which case the timing may be | |
increased to half an hour on each side. | |
## 23. Ushtrasana--1/2 minutes | |
Illustration, Ushtrasana | |
Kneel. Hold your ankles, push with your hands, arms straight, to | |
raise your chest and from an arch, look up, head relaxed behind. | |
Benefits: Removes fat in the abdomen and buttocks. Helps to improve | |
digestion. | |
## 24. Ardhakurmasana--2 minutes | |
Illustration, Ardhakurmasana | |
From Japanese sit (hips on or between the heels, knees together) bend | |
down, arms stretched forward, forehead and palms on ground. Body | |
completely relaxed. Normal breathing. | |
Benefits: Removes fat in the abdomen and buttocks. Helps to improve | |
digestion. | |
## 25. Shashakasana--1 minute | |
Illustration, Shashakasana | |
Japanese sit. Place top of the head on the ground as close as | |
possible, hold your heels and raise the hips until the arms are | |
straight. Normal breathing. | |
## 26. Shirsasana or Half Shirsasana--2 minutes | |
Illustration, Shirsasana or Half Shirsasana | |
Half Shirsasana: Place top of the head and elbows on the ground, | |
palms at the back of the head, fingures locked--head and elbows form | |
a triangle. Slowly raise hips, straighten legs, to bring head, back | |
and hips in one line, take all body weight on the head, keep feet on | |
the ground for support. | |
Full Shirsasana: Position of head and arms as above but with legs | |
taken up to vertical in line with the rest of the body, feet | |
stretched, toes pointed--entire weight on the top of the head. | |
Normal breathing. After coming down rest in Shavasana for one full | |
minute. | |
Benefits: Gives a rich supply of blood to the brain and a good | |
nourishment. A powerful nerve tonic, it invigorates, energises and | |
aids the digestive power and also helps to purify the blood. | |
## 27. Veerasana--2 minutes | |
Illustration, Veerasana | |
Japanese sit. Hands on knees, abdomen drawn in, chest up, back | |
straight, shoulders squared, head erect. Normal breathing. | |
Benefits: Aids digestion and helps cure sciatica. | |
## 28. Abdominal breathing--20 to 30 reps | |
Illustration, Abdominal breathing | |
Lie on your back, arms alongside, feet near hips, knees raised and | |
together. Place one hand on the stomach and do deep breathing. The | |
hand is not to press but merely feel the movement of the stomach | |
which rises as you breathe in and sinks as you breathe out. When you | |
breathe out contract the abdominal muscles pulling them in towards | |
the backbone. | |
Benefits: Improves the diaphragmatic, complete breathing Messages the | |
abdominal organs, improves the peristaltic movements of the | |
intestines thus helping good bowel movements. | |
## 29. Shavasana--As long as one is comfortable. | |
Illustration, Shavasana | |
Lie on your back, feet slightly apart, toes slightly turned out, | |
hands a little away from the body, palms up. Breathe normally, | |
through the nose. Deliberately loosen up each and every muscle. | |
Imagine you are a floating cloud or a piece of cloth on the floor. | |
You can concentrate in your heart and feel relaxed, relaxed, | |
relaxed--absolutely free from all thought, completely relaxed. You | |
must feel light, light, very light. | |
Benefits: Makes the muscles soft and pliable and enables the blood | |
flow to return to its normal pace. | |
# A short programme | |
Free Body Warming Movements (5 minutes) | |
* Sarvangasana | |
* Matsyaasana | |
* Pashchimottanasana | |
* Nauasana | |
* Halasana | |
* Salabhasana | |
* Pavanmuktasana | |
* Ardhamatsyendrasana | |
* Shirsasana | |
* Shavasana | |
Timing for each Asana may be as desired. | |
# What I want to bring about in the material world... | |
* Perfect Consciousness. | |
* Integral Knowledge, omniscience. | |
* Power Invincible, irresistible, ineluctable (Power), omnipotence. | |
* Health, Perfect, constant, unshakable (Health), perpetually | |
renewed energy. | |
* Eternal Youth, constant growth, uninterrupted progress. | |
* Perfect Beauty, complex and total harmony. | |
* Inexhaustible unparalleled Riches, control over all the wealth of | |
this world. | |
* The Gift of healing and giving happiness. | |
* Immunity from all accidents, invulnerability against all adverse | |
attacks. | |
* Perfect Power of expression in all fields and all activities. | |
* The Gift of tongues, the power of making oneself understood | |
perfectly by all. | |
* And all else necessary for the accomplishment of Thy work. | |
--The Mother (Champaklal's Treasures, p. 87) | |
Source |