A foundation of yoga practice, “asana” is a Sanskrit word meaning “seat” or “sit down.” While this may refer to any physical position that can be held for long periods of time to promote stillness and mental focus during meditation, asanas are more commonly known as the poses a yoga practitioner, or yogin, assumes during yoga practice.

Asanas are especially important to the most common styles of yoga practiced in the Western world today, including Ashtanga, Hatha, Bikram and Iyengar. Although an absolute number of asanas has not been established, each yoga style tends focus on a certain group of asanas. Bikram Yoga, for example, consists of a strict series of 26 asanas, while other styles allow for asanas to be performed in response to a yogin’s needs and abilities.

An asana consists of three main components: entering the pose, holding the pose and leaving the pose. During each of these stages, the yogin is mindful of mental state, breathing and physical position. Asanas may be performed seated, standing or supine, and may be classified in different ways such as meditative, restorative or corrective, depending on the intended effect.

While all asanas are meant to promote health and vitality, certain asanas can often target specific concerns. Asanas should be performed on an empty stomach and should not involve jerky movements or excessive strain on any part of the body.