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Yogasan
Asan is a Sanskrit word which means to sit down, to be still. Asans are different postures in which the body is held still while focusing on the breath which is the key to better physical, mental and emotional health because breath is the bridge between the body and the mind. Regular and proper practice of various asans help in maintenance of physical health, brings mental tranquility, and prevents many diseases. As the practitioner enhances her/his breathe awareness, she/he becomes more still mentally, and bodily stillness automatically follows. Asans are to keep the body fit so that the mind is unoccupied by physical distractions and can be focused on consciousness; physical fitness is not an end in itself. The different postures work on different energy points and channels in the body which regulate the proper flow of energy. This in turn paves the way for mental stillness which is of utmost importance in the pursuit of transcending the physical world. The Yogis and sages of ancient Indian spiritual traditions prescribed asans to prepare the body so that it may help and not be a hindrance along the path of more evolved spiritual practices.