Sutra 2.46 Sthira Sukham Asanam Asana is a steady, comfortable posture. (Translated bySri Swami
Satchidananda)
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media these days. On January 2012, there was an article on NYtimes with the
title of ¡° How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body¡±.
The message from this article is that: although yoga is a very gentle and non-aggressive exercise,
but it can be risky for modern urbanities. If not been taught correctly, quite a few poses can cause
harm even permanent damages to your body. In the old days, Indian practitioners
of yoga typically squatted and sat cross-legged in daily life, and yoga poses were
an outgrowth of these postures. Now urbanites who sit in chairs all day walk
into a studio a couple of times a week and strain to twist themselves into
ever-more-difficult postures despite their lack of flexibility and other
physical problems. I believe the
critical point that the article missed to point out is that yoga is not a
fitness exercise, although it definitely gives out those physical benefits. But
more importantly, yoga is a spiritual practice.
First of all, we need to be very mindful when we practice
yoga, really be aware of our limitations and feelings. We have to learn to
communicate with our own body.
Talk to the sore and painful part of our body. Ask constantly how do I
feel at this moment. Can I be in
this pose still without pain? The transformational power of yoga can only be
manifested through quietness and mindfulness. Every asana has a place between
solidity and comfort. This place is often described as feeling suspended in
time or coinciding with the infinite. It is a state where the body and mind are
united in a state of tranquil composure. When practicing with a sense of ¡°sthira
sukham¡± you flow through the physical postures with power and intensity yet
remain soft and relaxed in your body and mind. You learn to know the limits
your own body and watch the progress whiles detaching yourself from restlessness
and remaining confident and calm.
We are living in a restless world. Every day we are pushed or
pulled to all directions and have many obstacles and struggles. It seems as if
we must do something if anything is to happen. Yoga teaches me a
great lesson of not so much by doing but of not doing.
Surely we have to put some effort into training the body to sit straight and be
aligned. However, after that is accomplished, the next step is to learn
to do nothing, allowing the posture to settle in for deep imprints and allowing
attention to merge with the infinite.