In the yog sutras, Patanjali gives a concise definition of asanas, “Sthiram sukham aasanam” which means that any position which is comfortable and steady is asana. The purpose of practicing asanas is to develop the ability to sit comfortably in one position for an extended period of time for meditation.
Later on, it was found that because of weak muscles or less flexibility in the physical body, it’s really difficult to sit for long in meditation. The yogis found that unless and until the physical body is fit enough to sit for extended period, meditation cannot be practiced and hatha yoga ttc India asanas came into existance. They also found that hatha yoga asanas not only make body flexible and strong but also open the energy channels and psychic centers. They found that developing control of the body through these practices enabled them to control the mind and energy. Yogasanas became tools to higher awareness, providing the stable foundation necessary for the exploration of the body, breath, mind and higher states. For this reason, asanas practice comes first in hatha yoga texts such as Hatha Yoga Pradipika.
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