|
Maharshi Patanjali has averred - sthiram sukham asanam i.e.
that comfortable pose in which one can sit without any body movement is termed
as asana. According to Shivanand if one can sit for three hours without any body
movement, then one can attain all the accomplishments and benefits of asanas.
Obviously, he too shares the Pantajali viewpoint. Though this is difficult
initially but certainly not impossible. To sit in meditational poses, one
requires adequate flexibility in all the muscles and above all a healthy body.
The important point regarding this asanas is that one must hold the spinal chord
straight which is not easy all the time. Generally whenever we sit or whatever
we do, we tend to tilt ourselves in one particular direction. One may be tempted
to ask, why not use shavasana during meditational asanas. As during this pose
the body remains inactive and the spinal chord too remains straight. But to
meditate during shavasana is not so easy. One may be easily induced to sleep and
never meditate.
| 
