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The Fifth Lesson: Patanjali’s Yoga System.1211
are produced—and at the same time to control, direct and concentrate the
Prana, or nerve-force, with which the system is filled, and which the various
ganglia, or plexi, in the body, particularly the great Solar Plexus, serve to
store as great storage-batteries.
In connection with Prana, which the Yogins call the Fourth Step, there is
put into operation the practice of the Third Step, known as Postures (asana),
upon which the Yogins place great attention and to which they ascribe great
merit. There are a great variety of these Postures used by the Yogins, and
there have been a number of Hindu books written for the purpose of
explaining the details of them. Some of the Postures are very intricate, the
strained and unnatural positions usually ascribed to the gods in the Hindu
Pantheon, and which are shown by their images, pictures, etc., giving an idea
of the difficulty of assuming them. In fact, one would have to be a trained
and developed contortionist in order to assume them. Some of the ascetics
carry this idea of the Postures to an absurd extent, and spend their lives with
their bodies twisted and contorted into abnormal and unnatural postures—
deeming the same a mark of piety, holiness, and attainment—much to the
sorrow and disgust of the philosophical Hindu.
The simple Posture usually taught to the student who wishes to acquire
the science and method of Pranayama, is that of the “Yogi Seat,” which
consists in the person seating himself on the ground, or floor, easily and
well balanced, the spinal column being kept upright and straight so that
the spinal cord be allowed to hang freely and unrestricted within its natural
channel. The head, neck, and chest must be so held that a straight line would
pass directly through the centre of each.
Then the Breathing is taught, beginning with the cultivation of the natural
measured breath, inhaling slowly, retaining a moment under control, and
then exhaling slowly, carrying the sacred word “Om” in the mind, and
accompanying the inhalations and exhalations, thus serving as a rhythmic
accompaniment to the incoming and outgoing breath.