Asana

Āsana comes from the Sanskrit root ās, 'to sit' or 'to be present.' Literally it means 'a seat' or 'a posture' — originally the seat on which one sits for meditation, and by extension the way the body is held and settled within that stillness.

As the third limb of yoga, āsana is the practice of establishing a steady, comfortable position. In Patañjali's usage it refers chiefly to a stable seat for meditation; in the later haṭha tradition it expands into the wide repertoire of postures familiar in modern yoga.

Patañjali defines āsana in the Yoga Sūtras at 2.46 with the phrase sthira sukham āsanam — 'posture should be steady and comfortable.' The following sūtras add that it is mastered by relaxing effort and letting the mind settle on the infinite, not by strain.

On the mat, this means seeking the meeting point of stability (sthira) and ease (sukha) in each pose — enough effort to hold the shape, enough softness that the breath stays free. The aim is a body settled enough that it no longer distracts the mind.

A widespread misconception treats āsana as a fitness pursuit measured by flexibility or difficulty. Classically it is preparation for meditation: a posture you can inhabit calmly and for a long time. Advanced flexibility is not the point — a steady, comfortable seat is, whatever your range of movement.