Yoga isn't just about practicing asanas daily. The deeper concept lies in assiduously practicing a set of rules of Patanjali Yogasutras. That's how one gets to enjoy the yogic way of life.
Let us acknowledge/revise our insights on the eight limbs of yoga; theAshtanghyoga.( sip drop by drop, wherein lies the pleasure, while one is at practice) It contains the commandments of a yogic life. You may presume; like in the scriptures and I might agree!
1. Niyam2. Yam3. Pranayama4. Asanas5. Pratyahara6. Dharana7.Dhyana8.SamadhiGreat sage Patanjali defines- The purpose of asanas or Yogasutras or physical postures is to use the body to gain health and the mastery over the mind.
YOGASANAS
'Sthiramsukhamasanam' That is the reason why the Yoga Instructor keeps telling repeatedly to relax the whole body and enjoy the pain with a smile on the face.
One should keep saying to oneself, "Let me relax, let me not become tense up, let me not get anxious", while doing the asanas i.e. to relax the effort by withdrawing. Also read this article without any tension, read to relax.
The next stage or Sukha is a stage of bilss. Once one starts maintaining the asanas effortlessly with relaxation for longer duration, the general tendency is the the mind starts wandering with is against the whole objective of asanas. So, how does one overcome that?Patanjali gives yet another trick: ' Prayatnasaithilyanantasamapatti (P.V.S: 2.47) i.e. to imagine the vast beautiful blue sky or infinite ocean and allow the mind to stay to resonate, and to tune with total infinite object. It keeps the mind above dualities,
'Tato dvandvanabhighatah' Patanjali yogasutra 2.48. From the attainment of that perfected posture, there arises an unassailable, unimpeded freedom from suffering due to the pairs of the opposites (such as heat and cold, good and bad, or pain and pleasure). This brings the stability and the balance, Samatva.
So, Yoga starts working from the physical level and moves towards subtler level-the mind. It starts from the body level and moves towards muscular level, then the breathing level, the mind or emotional level to maintain the balance and calmness of mind. By so doing, one achieves the ideal state of body and mind.
Resource: Svyasa- YIC - Theory 1
Sumathi Mohan