Why Asanas? Some thoughts (post the practice :D)

 Firstly hope everyone got what that title meant!

The very goal of Yoga is to stop all modulations of the mind, so that, we reside in the state of the observer. This is what meditation is truly all about

There are 8 ways to achieve this and one of the ways is Asana or physical poses. How would contorting into different stretches, twists, bends, and squeezes help in quietening the restless mind?

The state of mental quiet is less about preachings and instructions and more about enabling certain states in the body that have a definitive effect on the mind. 

One of the important reasons which disables individuals from reaching a calm and meditative state is the inability of the body to get rid of waste or Aama (Sanskrit). Ordinarily, we would think that this refers to digestive waste. This is 100% true, What is also equally true is the ability of the body to get rid of wastes at the cellular levels as well. Our cells too eat, drink, breathe, egest and involve in dozens of other activities before finally dying. The cellular waste as well as dead cells collect in the Lymphatic system. 

The Lymphatic system unlike the circulatory system which has a heart to pump the fluid, has only our physical activities to enable its optimum functioning. The optimal functioning of the Lymphatic system ensures that the body is free of cellular waste. 

Asana is a fantastic approach to enable this optimum Lymphatic functioning. The various stretches, bends, twists, and squeezes performed with deep diaphragmic breathing over a period of time (some Asanas can be held for a few minutes as well depending on the experience of the Yogi), have a salutary effect on the Lymphatic System. 

The continuous buildup of waste in the Lymphatic system has a corresponding ill effect on the organs and glands that surround them. 

The Prana (https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/2598734235874609373/5022012620229752242?hl=en-GB) flows freely when the body is free of Aama and is enabled to flow unimpeded. The role of Asana in cleansing the body at the cellular levels and thereby ensuring the free flow of Prana, as well as the increased flow of Prana in the body, is primal and pivotal. 

The quietening of the mind happens only when the levels of Prana in the body are increased. It won't happen with preaching and reading books! Yes, it also happens in the presence of a Guru who operates at elevated levels of Prana :)