Asana Traditions

Asana is the third limb of Patanjali's eight-fold path — not the whole of yoga but an essential preparation. The body must be steady and comfortable before the mind can be still. What we call "yoga" in the West is mostly asana, but even asana done with awareness becomes meditation.

Modern asana practice flows through distinct lineages, each with its own philosophy and method: Iyengar's precision and alignment, Ashtanga's disciplined sequences, Jivamukti's devotional integration, vinyasa's creative flow, and restorative/yin's deep surrender. Explore each tradition in the pages below.