Asanas
Thousand of years ago, yogis meditating in jungles and in the mountains of Himalayas, carefully observed the wild animals that shared their solitude. Through deep observation they began to detect the techniques which the mother nature instills in her creatures to keep them healthy, agile and alert. How the different animals instinctively cure themselves, relax, sleep and keep awaken. These ancient yogis experimented with these animal posture on their own bodies, and after much readjustment through deep intuition, they finally created a systematic series of physical exercise, known as asanas. Many asanas thus devised are named for animals which inspired them: cobra, locust, peacock, fish, etc.
Asanas literally means “posture comfortably held”, During this smooth motions, the body remain in the state of relaxed efficiency and the deep breathing which naturally accompanies these postures carries a great deal of oxygen to be absorbed in the blood stream. Asanas effect every aspect of the human physique; they relax and tone up the muscles and the nervous system, stretch stiff ligaments and tendons, limber joints and massage the internal organs.
The yogis discovered , that the complex symphony of the body is conducted by a system of glands. The chemical substances secreted by these gland are called by scientist today “hormones”. Hormones have a profound effect on the physical and mental functions; growth, digestion, energy levels, emotions, etc. For example, heavy doses of thyroxine, the secretion from the thyroid gland, make a perfect normal man nervous and irritable.