Asanas: What are they?
The ideal time to start these asanas is in the morning. Morning times are quiet and conducive to perform asanas. The most important thing to bear in mind is to be aware or conscious of what one is doing during the asana practice. Inattention during the practice does not give favorable results. The aim is to observe, recognize and control bodily movements. Yoga is one of the best means to understand the nature of the mind, body language and above all, self-study.
Asanas are 80 percent mental and 20 percent physical. A regular routine should be adhered to, while following asana practice. While doing the asanas, one should be conscious of the stretch in the limbs and be aware of the flexibility of the joints. A general yoga routine should commence with padmasana, a sitting posture suitable for meditation. Apart from being conscious of bodily movements, one should start to observe ones breathing, heartbeat and the tension in the muscles. One must be able to distinguish the different states of tension, relaxation and other sensations in the body.
The main emphasis of these asanas is, to assume a posture slowly, smoothly, and to be aware of the feelings that the posture helps to develop. The posture should be executed in a slow and controlled manner. Then focus should be on breathing. Controlled breathing helps to gain conscious control over bodily functions. Then, one should relax in the posture. Relaxation is an important aspect in yoga practice.
One should also mentally tune oneself to yoga postures or visualize the posture one is going to practice. All the muscles must be in a relaxed state from the start to the final position; practicing yoga should make one feel good. The aim here is not to achieve a perfect posture hastily but rather to enjoy the process through a non-striving attitude. Observation and concentration play a vital role in the practice of yoga. Introspection of one's own thoughts and feelings too play a significant role. When thoughts invade the mind, they should be gently pushed away and attention should be gathered gently. Each yoga posture, which falls into phases, manifests itself in synchrony.
The essence of yoga is to transform life into a healthy one. It changes and normalizes an incorrect pattern of living. Yoga re-energizes the mind and body.
