 |
The comprehensive list of asanas
was not compiled by any one individual. And even
though the sage Patanjali is credited with being the
father of Ashtanga yoga and many, if not all people,
attribute the entire body of yoga to him, it would be
a fallacy to fall for. Truth is, yoga evolved over
centuries and many great seers and sages contributed
their mite to the subject. When and how exactly it
came to be compiled in one volume still remains
ambiguous, but today we at least have a comprehensive
text, the Hathayoga Pradipika of Svatmarama that
contains a more or less complete list and description
of the whole body of asanas, pranayamas and yogic
kriyas, give or take a few.
The regular practice of yogasanas has proven to be of
immense health and therapeutic value. In addition to
their various physiological benefits, research down
the decades has proven that they positively affect our
minds, as well. Why, our life force energies as well
as our creative intelligence can be molded and
augmented by their regular practice.
The regular practice of yogasanas helps to keep us
physically fit, reduces weight, normalizes blood
pressure, controls stress and cholesterol levels and
improve overall performance of the body and mind. The
resultant physical fitness bring about reduction in
stress levels while enhancing vitality. Asana is the
only known workout known to tone up the internal
structure of the body, be it the organs, blood or
blood vessels, while simultaneously bringing about
synchronization in levels of vata, pitta and kapha in
the body, better explained in detail in Ayurveda. |