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In yoga, asana refers both to the place in which a practitioner (''yogi'' if male, ''yogini'' if female) sits and the posture in which he or she sits.〔"Patanjali Yoga sutras" by Swami Prabhavananda, published by the Sri Ramakrishna Math ISBN 81-7120-221-7 p. 111〕 In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali defines "asana" as "to be seated in a position that is firm, but relaxed".〔Verse 46, chapter II; for translation referred: "Patanjali Yoga Sutras" by Swami Prabhavananda , published by the Sri Ramakrishna Math ISBN 81-7120-221-7 p. 111〕 Patanjali mentions the ability to sit for extended periods as one of the eight limbs of his system, known as ashtanga yoga.〔Patanjali (± 300-200 B.C.) Yoga sutras, Book II:29〕 Asanas are also performed as physical exercise where they are sometimes referred to as "yoga postures" or "yoga positions". Some asanas are arguably performed by many practitioners just for health purposes. Asanas do promote good health, act though in different ways compared to physical exercises, "placing the physical body in positions that cultivate also awareness, relaxation and concentration". == Terminology == Asana (; (サンスクリット:आसन) ''āsana'' (:ˈɑːsənə) 'sitting down', < आस ''ās'' 'to sit down'〔Monier-Williams, Sir Monier (1899). ''A Sanskrit-English Dictionary''. Oxford Clarendon Press, p. 159〕) originally meant a sitting position. The word ''asana'' in Sanskrit does appear in many contexts denoting a static physical position, although traditional usage is specific to the practice of yoga. Traditional usage defines asana as both singular and plural. In English, plural for asana is defined as asanas. In addition, English usage within the context of yoga practice sometimes specifies ''yogasana'' or ''yoga asana'', particularly with regard to the system of the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. However, ''yogasana'' is also the name of a particular posture that is not specifically associated with the Vinyasa system, and that while "ashtanga" (small 'a') refers to the eight limbs of Yoga delineated below, Ashtanga (capital 'A') refers to the specific system of Yoga developed by Sri Krishnamacharya at the Mysore Palace. Yoga first originated in India. In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali describes asana as the third of the eight limbs of classical, or Raja Yoga. Asanas are the physical movements of yoga practice and, in combination with pranayama or breathing techniques, constitute the style of yoga referred to as Hatha Yoga.〔Arya, Pandit Usharbudh (aka Swami Veda Bharati) (1977/1985). ''Philosophy of Hatha Yoga''. Himalayan Institute Press, Pennsylvania.〕 In the Yoga Sutra, Patanjali describes asana as a "firm, comfortable posture", referring specifically to the seated posture, most basic of all the asanas. He further suggests that meditation is the path to samādhi; transpersonal self-realization.〔Swami Prabhavananda (Translator), Christopher Isherwood (Translator), Patanjali (Author) (1996, 2nd ed.). Vedanta Press.〕 The eight limbs are, in order, the yamas (restrictions), niyamas (observances), asanas (postures), pranayama (breath work), pratyahara (sense withdrawal or non-attachment), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (realization of the true Self or Atman, and unity with Brahman (The Hindu Concept of God)).〔〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Asana」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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