Despite its tradition dating back thousands of years, the styles of yoga popular in the West today, which mostly consist of a series of challenging postures, are relatively new. “Asana” literally means “sit” and originally referred to the meditative sitting postures that yoga originally consisted of. It was only over time that more intensive physical exercises were developed, which were combined into a flowing sequence.
The Indian yoga guru Trumulai Krishnamacharya was the first to integrate “all the asanas that we know so distinctively for yoga today” into practice about 120 years ago, says sports medicine specialist and yoga teacher Ronald Steiner. Today, an asana can be defined as a posture or position that helps you gain more body control and improves physical health: the asanas strengthen strength and endurance, and stretch muscles and joints. In addition, they are said to improve blood circulation and thereby cleanse the internal organs.
Yoga poses based on nature and Indian mythology
The central scriptures on which the yoga teachings are based list 84 original asanas. On the one hand, the poses derive from nature: the Indian yoga gurus are said to have studied animals and plants over the years and derived postures from them, which is reflected in the names of the poses. The butterfly, the peacock or the grasshopper are just a few examples. On the other hand, the postures come from Indian mythology.
Because “the cornerstone of Indian tradition is found in Indian myth,” writes Raj Balkaran, a Sanskrit scholar and lecturer at the Oxford Center for Hindu Studies. Even today, Indian culture – ideas, art, song, dance and rituals – is inextricably linked to its mythological roots. The expert describes the cosmos of Indian mythology as a “space of sacred places, several kingdoms and cyclical time, in which the universe is created and destroyed again and again in an endless cycle”. Kings, deities, scholars and nymphs, among others, populate these places. According to Raj Balkaran, all narratives, which some see as part of the story and others as pure fantasy, fulfill a meaningful function. They offer an insight into the values and beliefs that characterize Indian culture and convey “profound wisdom from ancient India”.
In “Stories behind the Poses” Raj Balkaran tells the Indian myths on which 50 well-known yoga postures are based. The scholar describes the stories as captivating, insightful and educational. The author summarizes the moral and lessons contained in each of the 50 myths in bullet points at the end of each story.
© Leaping Hare Press
The Sanskrit scholar illuminates these philosophical truths and their teachings in his book “The Stories behind the Poses”. In the illustrated book, the author presents 50 yoga poses and tells the underlying story from Indian mythology. The book, with its artistic illustrations, is not a manual for physical yoga practice, but is intended for spiritual expansion of the practice and as an impetus for self-reflection.
The mythical stories show that there is more to the asanas than just the physical aspect. In addition to physical exertion, the yoga postures also require the concentration of the mind to harmonize the movements with the breath. The unity of breath, movement and energy is intended to support the yoga practitioner – according to the original purpose of the asanas – in achieving the highest goal of Indian teaching, the state of highest knowledge.
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Because it is only through regular asana practice that the practitioner can achieve the physical freedom to remain in a meditative position for a longer period of time with expanded awareness. With this in mind, Raj Balkaran should work the Indian myths: “These stories should be experienced and lived in your heart, so that you can embody their wisdom,” the scientist concludes his foreword before taking the reader on a colorful journey through India Mythology.