Stable posture is a very important part of yogic discipline. In fact the very first asana that is taught to disciples is that of tadasana. It means the ‘mountain pose’. Practice of this pose gives the practitioner the steadiness of the mountain.

The feet firmly planted on the ground, the body stretches up towards the sky. Since yoga is holistic, the stability in a posture automatically conveys to the emotion and the mind this unwavering stance. Unshakeable in faith the yogi stands steady in body and mind.

Of course this steadiness has to be tempered with flexibility—this is the paradox of yoga—stable yet not inflexible. Otherwise the practising yogi will become insufferable and bigoted unable to adapt or accept other points of view. This may seem very farfetched but the relationship between the physical body, emotional body and the mental body, though subtle, is still very much present. A practising yogi has to constantly keep watch and chart progress in yog sadhana not by the efficiency of the performance of the asanas, which any gymnast can execute with more ease, but by the effect it has on daily life. This is the beauty of yoga practice that without achieving perfection in the posture, the practitioner can still reap the full benefit of the asana in the healing of the three bodies—physical, emotional and mental.

There are many misunderstandings about yoga practice today mainly due to the western identification of the self with the physical body. Following suit Indian teachers of yoga have also started emphasising on the benefits of yoga to the physical body. Underestimating the intelligence of the person practicing, many teachers either because they do not know or because they do not care to explain, leave the far-reaching benefits of yoga to the whole personality undisclosed. Identification with the physical body that will eventually one day be consigned to the flames, leads to pain and grief while the whole process of yoga is to show the practitioner the path to realise the true self. “You are not this body of flesh and bones that sleeps decays and dies. You are Immortal Consciousness, king of the earth and skies,” says Himalayan master Yogiraj Siddhanath in an attempt to educate true seekers on the path of yoga.

Posture of stability: Stand against a wall with heel to toe touching. Now gently shift back until the heel is pressed against the wall. Move back and press the shoulders against the wall as well. Now you are standing with heels, buttocks, calf, upper back, shoulders and back of the head pressed gently against the wall. The chest is pushed out freeing the lungs to breathe more freely. Hold this posture for two to three minutes.