Yoga Sutras 2.46 to 2.48 – Asana

There are only 3 sutras on asana out of 196.  This low number doesn’t minimize the importance of asana, it just helps to put it into perspective.  Asana is just one of  eight limbs of yoga.

Y.S. 2.46  Sthira sukham asanam
Alertness and relaxation are the dual qualities of asana

Sthira - firm, fixed, steady, steadfast, lasting
sukham – happiness, delight
asanam - postures

Y.S. 2.47  Prayatna shaitilya ananta samapatti bhyam
Perfection in an asana is achieved when the effort to perform it becomes effortless and the infinite being within is reached.

Prayatna – persevering effort
shaitilya  - relaxation
ananta – endless, infinite
samapatti – Absorption of the infinite
bhyam - both

Y.S. 2.48  Tato dvandva anabhighatah
From then on the practitioner is undisturbed by dualities.  
Tato – from that, then
dvandva – dualities, opposites
anabhighatah -  free from affliction

Asana is a balance of effort and ease.  Learn to pay attention as you practice the poses.  Are your teeth gritted?  Are you holding your breath?  Or, is the breath ragged and sound like a steam engine, gushing out in bursts?  If you are not even aware of these sensations then you may be exerting too much effort and focusing too much on the physical aspects of the posture.  Again, posture is just one aspect of yoga.  Develop a curious sense of exploration about the pose and your participation in it.  Cultivate the capacity to feel as if you could be in the pose forever.  Perfection in asana is reached when effort ceases, instilling infinite poise.The final sutra on asana talks about not being disturbed by the dualities.  This refers to the qualities of opposites: hot/cold, pleasure/pain, now/later, being able to do the pose/not being able to do the pose.  It asks us to truly be in the present moment, allowing what is happening as opposed to preferring something else to be happening.  This sounds so simple in theory and yet it is really quite hard.  But, it is these preferences that cause us to suffer.The next sutras are about pranayama, or working with the life force energy of the breath.  When we are in struggle, or in fight/flight mode, or struggling with accepting things the way they are as opposed to how we want them to be our energy is scattered and it is hard to channel the energy of the breath.