Asana is a Sanskrit term which is often translated as “posture” or “pose.” Asanas are actually defined in yoga as “steady, comfortably held.”,particularly for the practice of the meditation. It is the one of the eight limbs of the yoga.

Asana is the most popular part of yoga and is often misunderstood as well. It is one of the very important limbs of the yoga. Asanas are not normal exercises but are special exercises with specific effects on the endocrine glands, inner organs, joints, muscles, ligaments and nerves.

Anyone of any level can practice Asanas, they don’t have to be experts, extremely flexible and lean. Individual asanas can be modified to suit all practice needs and abilities. Main aim of asanas are not just to exercise your body but to help us bridge disconnections between body, mind and breath. They are psychological benefits which are not properly understood by many practitioners.

There are many physical benefits of Asanas if you practice regularly:

* Improves strength and flexibility
* Improves respiration and circulation
* Improves chronic pain.

Psychological benefits of Asanas:

* Helps in controlling your breathing.
* Improves concentration and facilitates your mind for meditation.
* Balances your emotions by balancing your endocrine secretion.
* Reduces anxiety and depression.
* Improves your sleep.

There are more than 50,000 asanas, but not all are equally important. Asanas can be taught and modified according to the abilities and need. It is advisable to learn asanas under the guidance of a qualified teacher to get the best benefit of it and also prevent injuries. Like any other exercises they can harm you if they are not practiced properly.