“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.”

“Our continued effort
with the breath in Āsana
is that which helps to enliven
our various levels of interaction
with our inner and outer worlds as
expressed through the Pañca Maya.”

“From Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 47
Krishnamacharya taught that the
common denominator for successfully uniting
both aspects of relaxation and the infinite
within the practice of Āsana is the breath.
He saw it as continued effort
and synonymous with giving life.
The continued effort of the breath is that which gives life.”

“Two primary roles in the adaptation
of Āsana to the needs and potential
of the student are, facilitating a
decrease of  tension within the body
whilst facilitating an increase of
attention within the breath.”

“One of the joyful experiences that can emerge within our morning practice
is the feeling that arises on arriving at our Prāṇāyāma seat and taking
that first breath within an atmosphere of having more than enough time
in hand left to engage with this aspect of our on the mat Sādhana that day.
The sense of Sukha is palpable and offers a spaciousness that facilitates
the breath both releasing and entering into the spirit of, as Krishnamacharya
spoke of in terms of Āsana, Prayatna Śaithilya and Ananta Samāpatti.
This feeling in itself can both automatically lengthen and deepen
the flow of the breath without any conscious effort on our part.
A precious gift to start the days journey into exploring this vital area of practice.
A constant reminder, if not rejoinder, to not forget
to leave more than enough time for Prāṇāyāma,
rather than it being the token twiddle at the end of the practice,
or that which is oft easily at best compromised or at worst,
forgotten within the seduction of the bodily experiences.”

“Just because you can perform a posture,
doesn’t automatically mean you can
experience the posture as an Āsana.
To experience a posture as an Āsana
implies some other factors are involved.
Such as how to facilitate a decreasing
resistance within the confines of the body,
and integrating a transcendent involvement
with the mystery of what is beyond the body.”

“Through the breath you
have an external mirror,
as in Prayatna Śaithilya.
Through the breath you
have an internal anchor,
as in Ananta Samāpatti.
Conjoining both together
facilitates the experience
Sthira Sukham Āsanam.”

“When practicing Āsana
it could helpful to discern
between performance and presence,
as in discerning quantity against quality.
The art of Āsana is fulfilling performance,
but not at the expense of a quality of presence.”

• Paul’s Yoga Sūtra Keywords – Collected & Collated into Chapters
• Paul’s Yoga Sūtra Questions – Collected & Collated into Chapters
• Paul’s Yoga Sūtra Reflections – Collected & Collated into Chapters