Yoga Asanas: Practice Of Yoga Asanas and Health

By Sri Swami Sivananda

Practice Of Yoga Asanas

1. The practice of Yoga Asanas helps to prevent disease and maintain a high standard of health, vigour and vitality. It cures many diseases.

2. It is conducive to higher intellectual and spiritual attainment and provides a co-ordinated system of health for all people.

3. There are as many Asanas as there are living creatures.

4. Siddha, Padma, Svastika, Sukha-are the four chief meditation-postures.

5. Sirshasana, Sarvangasana, Halasana, Paschimottanasana-confer wonderful health and cure many diseases.

6. The practice of Asanas is always accompanied by Pranayama and Japa of Mantra.

7. Moderation in diet and observance of Brahmacharya are necessary for realising the maximum benefits of the practice of Asanas. A Yogi should always avoid fear, anger, laziness, too much sleep or walking, and too much food or fasting.

8. Regularity in the practice of Asanas is of paramount importance.

9. Lakhs of people have derived real benefit from the practice of Yoga Asanas.

10. Even in Europe and America, many have taken to the practice of Yoga Asanas.

11. Several Schools of Yoga in the West and India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Australia, Denmark, Holland, show a record to prove the therapeutic value of the Asanas.

12. I have written several books on Yoga Asanas: 1. Yoga Asanas, 2. Hatha Yoga, 3. Yogic Home Exercises, 4. Radiant Health Through Yoga, 5. Practical Guide to Students of Yoga; and a number of other books like 1. Easy Steps to Yoga, 2. Yoga in Daily Life, 3. Practical Lessons in Yoga, etc., contain lessons in Yoga Asanas and Pranayama.

13. This system costs nothing. It is inexpensive. It is simple. It is specially suited for the people of the whole world at large.

14. Even women can practise it with great advantage to themselves. Irrespective of age, all can join in the practice of Yoga Asanas.

15. The benefit of Yoga Asanas should be made available to every family in the whole world. Doctors' bills can be saved.

16. Ethical culture, practice of divine virtues, a rigorous discipline of the mind, spiritual culture and meditation are also very necessary for attaining integral perfection. Asanas and Pranayamas are only a part of Yoga.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda. See all articles here: Sivananda Kundalini Yoga