2100-Asanas_-The-Complete-Yoga-Poses-Daniel-Lacerda

perform the asanas had very little to do with what he contributed to the world as a great yogi. The
same applies to you. The practice of asanas is as much about training the mind as it is the body. How
you approach your asana practice is often a reflection of how you approach life. Do you keep a sense
of peace and calm when a challenge presents itself? Do you break down the impossible into smaller
tasks, making the whole possible through commitment to and reflection on each of the parts? Do you
overcome self-perceived limitations on your own or do you accept support from others?
Your practice of yoga poses should be characterized by two components: steadiness (sthira) and ease
(sukha). Concentrating on the sound of your breath (ujjayi, the most commonly practiced breathing
technique in yoga, see here), can provide the steadiness. If you lose your breath, it is most likely
because you are pushing too hard; ease off the pose and let the pose cater to the breath.
There is no such thing as a perfect pose; let the poses come like the steps of a dance. Just like in
dance, when we focus too much on the mechanics, we let go of the ability to enjoy the music. While
the mechanics of alignment are important to prevent injury, never forget the final goal. Feel the music
of life flow through you as you do each pose and your body will learn the moves naturally. There are
more than enough postures to keep you busy for the rest of your life, so allow yourself to let go of
ambition and enjoy the journey. Incorporating a combination of forward bends, backbends, twists, and
inversions in your yoga session is optimal for health.
Remember, too, that asanas help prepare the mind and body for meditation, relieving tension and
protecting the body from disturbances by purifying the nervous system.
FOURTH LIMB Pranayama (Control of Breath)
The English word “spirit” comes from the Latin spiritus, meaning “breath.”
The breath and the mind are interconnected. Deep, rhythmic, and fluid breathing will energize yet
calm the mind and body. Rapid, irregular, and strained breathing produces a chaotic and disturbed
mind. A calm mind will give you the mental space to make better decisions and a life in which you
take control instead of feeling like a victim of circumstances.
Breathing properly is fundamental to our very existence. Your brain feeds on oxygenated blood,
which is supplied with every inhalation. If you are unable to draw oxygen into your body, you will
become brain dead after a few minutes. On the other hand, proper exhaling helps expel carbon
dioxide. If your ability to exhale were impaired, you would most likely die due to the toxic buildup of
carbon dioxide and poison. Stress tends to negatively affect breathing patterns, which contributes to a
chain of effects that cause wear and tear on both your body’s nervous and immune systems. In fact, 90
percent of illness is stress-related and, for this reason, attention to breathing properly is, indeed, a
matter of life and death.
FIFTH LIMB Pratyahara (Sense Withdrawal)
Our perception of reality is predominantly influenced by our sensory experience—what we see, feel,