Pictures of Asanas

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#9

Reply to InnerAthlete

Were those photos Asanas? I am going to post a small extrat from our main book which is called Swasthya Y?ga Shastra. It talks about Asanas and was writen by Master DeRose, who has been practicing and teaching the Ancient Y?ga for nearly 50 years.

?SANA

FIRM AND PLEASANT CORPORAL TECHNIQUE
?sana is any position that is firm and pleasant (sthira sukham ?sanam). This is the broad and laconic definition from the Y?ga S?tra, chapter II, 46. According to this definition, the number of ?sanas is infinite.
Another definition, this one attributed to Shiva, confirms that of P?ta?jali: there are as many ?sanas as there are human beings on the face of the Earth.
Others, however, limit the number of ?sanas to 84,000, of which 840 are the most important and, of these, only 84 are considered fundamental. In the current book, we present 2,000 ?sanas. It is the largest compilation yet achieved in the history of Y?ga in the world.
But, what is an ?sana after all? ?sana is the corporal technique that, for many people, is the most prevalent stereotype of Y?ga. This is due to the fact that, among all the techniques of Y?ga, the only one which is photographable, filmable and able to be demonstrated in public is ?sana. It is possible to photograph y?ganidra, film pr?n?y?ma or demonstrate mudr? but it is of little. As a result of these facts, this anga has ended up being the one which is most well-known.
?sana is corporal technique, yes, but it is not exclusively corporal. It has nothing to do with gymnastics or physical education. Its origins are different, its purposes are different and the methods of executing it are different. This is why, in Y?ga, we do not need many things that are fundamental in Physical Education like, for example, muscular warm ups. In Ancient Y?ga, we do not use this before executing ?sanas.
In order to economize on words, people tend to refer to ?sanas exclusively through a corporal prism. Yet, any technique does not deserve the name ?sana unless it incorporates other elements.
If it is physical exercise, it is not Y?ga. In order for a technique to be considered an ?sana, it must have the following three elements:

  1. Position;
  2. Coordinated breathing; and
  3. Interior attitude.

The position needs to be:
a) stable;
b) comfortable; and
c) aesthetic.

The breathing needs to be:
a) conscious;
b) profound (abdominal and complete); and
c) with rhythm.

The interior attitude needs to have:
a) localization of consciousness throughout the body;
b) mentalization of images, colors and sounds; and
c) bh?va (deep sentiments or reverence).

This is what we think about asana and it is how we achieve those asanas so easily. It was not intended to be an advertisiment. You may take it out anytime you want. I do not even have time to handle all the private students and classes that I give in New York. Sorry about that.

#10

I believe my point(s) has been missed.

I was not seeking a rudimentary definition of “asana”.
What I was eluding to was that visual images contribute to perception.
These particular visual images do not, to me, reflect the deep “ancient yoga” that is mentioned. This is a bit of a personal issue for me just as Bikram rationalizing Yoga Competitions are a bit of an issue for me.

Images, just like text, support the yoga behind it. If one wants the world at large to perceive their yoga as an ancient subtle science of the body/mind/spirit then I have my doubts that these particular pictures convey in such a way.

Others obviously feel different. And that is fine.
If this form serves the practitioners and teachers and students in a way that moves them closer to their yogic dharma then it is beautiful. If it does not do such moving then it should beg the question of whether it is yoga or not.

All are welcome on the board and all are welcome on the path. It is not to me to defend or determine. If this works for those doing it then it should continue so.

#11

[quote=Hubert;4839]I feel awe when I see young, beautiful bodies performing postures like that. I also feel a bit sorry that I am not that young and beautiful anymore. But this is a normal feeling. Life has a beginning, and an end, and there’s a lot between these two. The sun rises, and I am happy. The moon rises and I am blue. Life is not just happiness, pleasure and light, but also pain, longing, and decay.
I don’t judge people having young athletic bodies, and exceptional health, showing off. It is the creation of God. It is beautiful like a hymn. They are proud of their work put in asana practice. As long as it makes people long for such health, it is inspiring and good. That does not automatically mean they will abuse their health, or neglect paranayama or meditation.[/quote]
Namaste !

Yoga is about union of your body with Atma…the whole focus is on astral body and not on gross body…

According to Yoga, SOUL has no age…no shape, no body…

Hari OM !

#12

Dear Y?gins/Y?ginis

Asanas do not need to be powerful or difficult to be beautiful. They only need to transmit your inside energy. Any asana can become an art if you put your happy or joy on it.
Let the Shiva Nataraja flows within you.

Marcello

#13

Namaste,
I’m new to this forum and was wondering is advertising allowed?

I don’t see how photos of young, healthy people doing strong asanas can even come close to portraying the true meaning of yoga.

[I]Yoga chitta vrtti nirodaha…patanjali sutra 2…yoga is when the waves mind ceases.[/I]

The purpose of asana in yoga is , as i see it and have experienced, to lighten and purify the body so that it’s easier to not identify with the body/mind as who we are until we are established in truth, who we are, peace, whatever word…beyond words.We are no longer a slave to conditioning or thoughts, feelings, body,
I hope people don’t get attatched to the asana and body as who they are coz this would lead to lots of future suffering. May they go deeper than that…to realize who they really are…
I realize we all have different paths, we must learn from experience anyway, so it’s all good… life gives whatever you need to learn…to realize.

Hari Om,
Soul

#14

… abit more. Even if one could do there asanas, why take photos of them and show them? …maybe these photos would appeal to the competitive conditioning in most humans on the planet, and so get some business for the teachers.
The way to advertise yoga is with our beautiful smiles, no matter what we have or don’t have in life… deep inner smile of not being attatched to the thoughts or body anymore…no desire even to be young and healthy, for this is all impermanent…not lasting happiness.
Wishing all to realize and dwell in Peace
love Soul

#15

[quote=YogSadhak;4874]Namaste !

Yoga is about union of your body with Atma…the whole focus is on astral body and not on gross body…

According to Yoga, SOUL has no age…no shape, no body…

Hari OM ![/quote]

I agree, though probably for someone who does not practice asanas, it is not that obvious. Frankly, I cannot pretend that I know my astral or other bodies, not perceptable by ordinary senses. When I practice (I am practically a beginner) I focus on my physical body mainly, because I am far from knowing it … I am just using it, but can I make my heart stop just for a minute ? Can I stop my digestion ? And what is the gross body ? Does it really exist on its own ? Of course not. The matter we are made of, would follow it’s own rules, and decompose if there was’nt the architect, the etheric body. The astral body does not depend that much on the etheric, though they have strong effects on each other. I am not saying I don’t witness changes in my consciusness while practicing asanas, of course I do, and I realise it is very important. I started to practice asanas so I can make my body strong and steady in order to be able to meditate. But I had to realise that it will be a much harder and longer journey than I thought. I must target weaknesses and ill effects of almost 20 years of neglect. And I am also a beginner. That’s why I admire people who are young and beautiful, and strong, and I envy them a bit for that. Just enought to get isnpired. :slight_smile: Of course I would not trade my experience for a young body. I had my way, I am here, exactly where I supposed to be. I don’t want to judge anyone.

#16

I would think that looking at lots of yoga pics would facilitate the practise.

#17

I can just speak for myself…looking at lots of pics isn’t what motivates me in asana practice. It’s the understanding i get from practice and the desire to clear and purify so as to be of benefit to others… and the experience of how much easier it is to let go of the mind, and certain thoughts that create suffering, as a result of practice, and the inloveness of union which motivates or facilitates practice, in my experience.

Peace to All,
Soul

#18

Hi Souljourney,

I understand your point of view and I’m really not trying to oppose you. But why not see it also like this; beautiful landscape, beautiful building, beautiful tiger… or beautiful body. Why not just to take a moment or two to admire and than continue your way:-)

#19

Little interferes more with the pursuit of capital Y yoga (in the west) than the covers of Yoga Journal. Maybe this only happens in North America. People see images, the cover of YJ, Rodney Yee on Oprah, a calendar in the front window of the local yoga studio, the pictures on a popular website, forum, or retail vendor…and this becomes their yoga samskara. It is impressed upon their consciousness as the very definition of yoga.

They do not know the esoteric diatribes tossed back and forth among yogis on forums, over tea, after class, in teacher trainings, as they have no idea whaat yoga is, or isn’t.

I constantly have to do two things 1) remind my students they are not this month’s cover of YJ and 2) convince non-practitioners that they can, in fact, DO yoga and what they’ve seen on Oprah, YJ, or the class they pass by at the gym, conveys very, very little about the nature of yoga.

Pictures are many things. Nothing inherently “bad” about pictures and I like them. They can serve, or not. Help and hinder they do in various circumstances. It is, often, what is behind them that warrants further examination (like all of our actions, what is the intention? Arjuna is a fine example. If one stumbled across his plight out of a yoga context I am fairly certain everyone would raise the Ahimsa flag and insist he should do no harm. In fact the point of the Gita is about Arjuna’s yogic dharma and he may very well have to kill in order to fulfill it.) Sometimes it is just the picture, other times it’s what is behind it.

Consider this; how do you feel posting a yoga picture of yourself in Savasana? Ever seen one? I have not. You want to post a yoga picture? Post this one. Post Tadasana. Now we’ve got a discussion.

#20

Is it the responsibility of the person who tries to sell the false images of yoga or is it my responsibility that I believe it and don’t take care of finding the real meaning? I see it as my own responsibility. That I see as my battle.

#21

I like how the posting of a couple of pics spurned a whole debate about the visual aspect of Yoga. I’d be interested to see pics of other members of this site, doing Yoga, whether it be meditating, doing a difficult asana or a basic one in the environment or location that they practice.

#22

[quote=Mirjana;5038]Hi Souljourney,

I understand your point of view and I’m really not trying to oppose you. But why not see it also like this; beautiful landscape, beautiful building, beautiful tiger… or beautiful body. Why not just to take a moment or two to admire and than continue your way:-)[/quote]

I have seen Beauty in a leppers eyes…

hari om
Soul

#23

Lots of talk, but where are the photos? :wink:
G.

#24

Here’s a couple from today of moi;

#25

It is both.

[QUOTE=Mirjana;5045]Is it the responsibility of the person who tries to sell the false images of yoga or is it my responsibility that I believe it and don’t take care of finding the real meaning? I see it as my own responsibility. That I see as my battle.[/QUOTE]

#26

[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;5052]It is both.[/QUOTE] - I have a couple of additional thoughts:-)

From a small circle of people teachings of yoga spreaded all over the world. Is it realistic to expect that all people with so much different cultures and traditions and levels of awareness would have the same attitude and approach to yoga? If we look at the religions, they all teach the universal moral principles. But if all religious people would live those principles wouldn’t be the situation in the world completely different? Isn’t the situation in the west that you’ve mentioned also a kind of reflection of what people asked? On the other hand I know also people who started to practise yoga just for the body benefit but after a while many of them starts to question more. The great spiritual books are available, everybody can open them, study and practise any moment. But the will have to come from inside of every human being.
It is a process of learning and that’s OK.

#27

inner athlete i enjoyed reading ur perspective, i agree with what your saying. i guess it’s our responsibility to look beyond the commercialism of contorted images and know what is really yoga within ourselves. we should not judge or compare ourselves against others. i always have to remind my students that yoga is not a competition, and to please stop looking around the room! using a blindfold can help mask that problem. it also serves to allow one to look deeper within themselves and truly ‘feel’ the asana rather than just ‘see’ it.

#28

Such inspiring photos, Marcello — the strength and fluidity in Swasthya always amazes me. Seeing instructors who’ve trained for four years really shows in the precision of each posture. It’s refreshing to learn about a style that’s well-known in Europe and South America but still finding its path in the U.S. I once tried to look up similar poses on Pinterest and even joked about calling the pinterest phone number when the algorithm kept showing me random recipes instead of yoga content. Your beach photo, especially, captures that calm focus many of us practice for years to reach. Thanks for sharing!