Meditative Asanas are the postures one assumes in order to sit or stand comfortably for extended durations, enabling one to concentrate and meditate without interference from muscle proprioceptors. The idea behind Meditative Asanas is merely to position oneself in such a way so that one’s limbs cease to send stimuli to the mind, allowing the practitioner to concentrate on meditation.Meditative Asanas have been consistently mentioned in various Indian Text on Yoga over the ages, including the Puranas and the Vedas, and have formed the core around which a comprehensive physical culture of asana practice was developed.
Types of Meditative Asanas
Asanas classified as meditative are considered highly important in the canonical Yoga texts. There are 12 meditative postures listed in various Hatha Yoga manuals, and variations on the same have been devised over the years, of which 16 are known, resulting in a total of 28 Meditative Asanas. Only 19 of these, however, can be considered real Meditative Asanas, since the others are corrective or cultural.
Postures of Meditative Asanas
All the meditative Asanas are similar, and invariably involve keeping the neck and body erect to let the blood flow freely along the spine and to avoid pressure on the visceral organs. The legs are rooted to the ground to maintain a steady posture. Meditative Asanas are also performed with either of two gazes; the nasal gaze and the frontal gaze (focusing on the nose or directly in front) and also involve the three Bandhas: the chin lock, abdominal compression and anal contraction. Some hand and finger symbolisms known as ‘Mudras’, are also performed in some meditative Asanas.
All the meditative Asanas are similar, and invariably involve keeping the neck and body erect to let the blood flow freely along the spine and to avoid pressure on the visceral organs. The legs are rooted to the ground to maintain a steady posture. Meditative Asanas are also performed with either of two gazes; the nasal gaze and the frontal gaze (focusing on the nose or directly in front) and also involve the three Bandhas: the chin lock, abdominal compression and anal contraction. Some hand and finger symbolisms known as ‘Mudras’, are also performed in some meditative Asanas.
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