EIGHT LIMBS OF YOGA - Asana
Āsana — The Seat of Stillness and Energy
Yoga Sutra 2.46 — “Sthira Sukham Āsanam”
Patañjali tells us that the posture should be steady and comfortable.
Within the Eight Limbs of Yoga (Aṣṭāṅga Yoga), āsana is the third limb, forming the bridge between the ethical foundations (yama and niyama) and the inward limbs (prāṇāyāma, pratyāhāra, dhāraṇā, dhyāna, samādhi). Though often understood today as physical exercise, Patañjali’s intention was clear — āsana is the cultivation of a stable, comfortable seat for meditation.
1. The Yogic Function — Calming and Stabilising the Mind
From a yogic perspective, the purpose of āsana is not to perfect the shape, but to steady the body so the mind can become still.
When the body is restless, the mind mirrors that restlessness. Through consistent practice, we develop sthira (steadiness) and sukha (ease) — a state where tension releases and awareness can expand inward.
In this way, āsana becomes a gateway to meditation. It purifies the body, regulates the breath, and calms the nervous system, allowing consciousness to rest in its natural state of clarity and peace.
2. The Tantric Function — Managing and Directing Energy
In Tantra and Traditional Hatha Yoga, āsana is not only for stability — it’s a means of energy management.
Each posture creates a distinct energetic quality, influencing the flow of prāṇa through the body’s subtle channels (nāḍīs) and awakening the five primary Vāyus — the internal winds or movements of life-force:
Forward Folds - Apāna Vāyu (downward-moving) Elimination, grounding, stability. Calms the mind, roots energy, supports release and surrender
Twists - Samāna Vāyu (balancing, inward-moving) Digestion, assimilation, transformation. Refines focus, stabilises the core, integrates opposing forces
Lateral Poses - Vyāna Vāyu (expanding, circulating) Integration, harmony, connection. Expands awareness, creates energetic flow, supports balance and connection
Backbends - Prāna Vāyu (inward and upward-moving) Vitality, inspiration, intake of life-force. Opens the heart, awakens vitality, enhances receptivity
Inversions - Udāna Vāyu (upward-moving) Expression, communication, spiritual ascent. Elevates consciousness, refines clarity, supports transformation and awakening
When Asana is approached with awareness of these subtle forces, it becomes a sacred map of energy — each posture a key that unlocks a specific current within the energetic body.
Through intelligent sequencing and breath awareness, we harmonise these five winds, transforming the practice into a living meditation in motion.
Union of the Two Views
Patañjali’s Yoga teaches stilling the mind through the body; Tantra teaches liberating the mind through energy.
When these two wisdom streams merge, āsana transcends the physical — it becomes an instrument of awakening.
The body is no longer just matter; it is the field through which consciousness is refined and realised.
Asana serves both as a seat of stillness and a vessel of prāṇic intelligence, leading us steadily toward the heart of yoga — union with the Self.