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The Art of Personal Sādhana

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    sthira

    Devanāgarī: स्थिर Translation: steady, firm, not wavering or tottering Similar words:stha, sthairya Opposite words:anavasthita Related concepts:sthiti

    Appears in

    Yoga Sūtra:

    Chapter 2: 46

    Yoga Rahasya:

    Chapter 1: 45


    Click here for complete Saṃskṛta Index

    Commentaries around

    “Sthira Sukha (Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 46) should both be present in Āsana.
    It also implies one should be able to choose the breath ratio.”
    – TKV Desikachar England 1980

    Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 46 Sthira Sukham Āsanam
    “Means what happens before and after a posture.
    One should be able to move to another posture with ease.
    – TKV Desikachar England 1980

    “Sthira is the absence of Rajas.”
    – TKV Desikachar on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 46

    “Āsana, according to this verse, needs to correlate the
    two qualities of steady attentiveness and spacious clarity.
    However, we are being offered qualities that are actually
    the fruits or outcome of the practice guidelines in the next verse.
    Hence this verse is a definition, but one that arises as an outcome
    of an attitude around the way we go about exploring Āsana.
    Although it could be added that this definition also relates
    to the direction of one’s Āsana practice as a whole.”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 46

    “The experience known as Sthira Sukham Āsanam,
    described in Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 46,
    arises as a fruit of Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 47,
    from melding the mastery of outer stillness in the world,
    described as Prayatna Śaithilya, or relaxation of continued effort,
    with the mystery of inner openness to the beyond,
    described as Ananta Samāpatti, or unity in the infinite.”
    – Paul Harvey on Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 46

    “Without Āsana,
    Prāṇāyāma cannot become accomplished.
    Without containing Prāna,
    the mind cannot achieve steadiness.”
    – From T Krishnamacharya’s composition,
    The Yoga Rahasya Chapter One verse 45

    “Where do Āsana lead us?
    1. For seated practices
    (Adhyātmika Krama or Yoga Practice as a Self-Inquiry)
    To stay in a stable posture with the spine erect,
    for Dhyāna or preparation for Dhyāna.
    2.  For health.
    (Cikitsā Krama or Yoga Practice as a Self-Healing)
    They do something for the energy flow of the body.
    3. Ability to master the body
    (Śakti Krama or Yoga Practice as a Self-Empowerment)
    Not necessarily to promote health,
    but to show that we can master the body.
    Often these are good for health,
    though many are only useful as challenges.”
    – TKV Desikachar
    Further Reading – What is the Yoga of Krishnamacharya?

    Different Types of Postural Activity in Āsana Practice
    “Furthermore, the consideration of movement
    or stasis sits within a relationship to the
    deeper purpose of Āsana within our journey
    through the body and the breath, to the mind
    and beyond, through considerations such as:
    In relation to the dual concepts of Sthira and Sukham.
    Dynamic can be too much effort, as in overly Sthira,
    and Static can be too relaxing, as in overly Sukham.
    Thus, the use of movement and stasis in Āsana needs
    to consider how to correlate these two qualities, namely
    that of steady attentiveness with that of spacious clarity.”
    – 108 Yoga Planning Pointers
    – The Viniyoga of Planning Principles Guidelines – Collected & Collated

    Links to Related Posts:

    • Question to Krishnamacharya – “Can you explain the concept of Vinyāsa and Pratikriyā Āsana?”

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    This glossary with its similar, opposite and related concepts categories, supplemented by textual references and additional commentaries around the key word, is a both work in progress and constantly ever-expanding in terms of further cross-references, textual cross links and commentaries.
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