Classic yoga poses

[yoga-yoda]

I was wondering what are the classic poses of yoga are? As I keeping hearing that certain asana’s are ‘classic yoga postures’. I wondered what these poses are. And also how they relate to a modern yoga practice, where there are so many different asanas to practice. So have some of these positions/asana's become obsolete, or other similar postures achieve the some results. I was wondering what other peoples views are on this matter. Thanking you in advance for your wisdom.

[DoestheDog?]

I think that you will find different answers. Here is just one http://www.84asanas.net/

[Willem]

From my point of view, classic yoga poses are those mentioned in the classic texts on hatha yoga - the Hatha Yoga Pradipika (14th century) and the Gheranda Samhita (17th century). The latter mentions 32 poses, that overlap those described in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. The names of the poses are given here.

Note that contemporary manuals describe over a thousand postures.

The following series was taught to André van Lysebeth when he visited Swami Sivananda in Rishikesh: sarvangasana, halasana, paschimottanasana, bhujangasana, salabhasana, dhanurasana, ardha-matsyendrasana, sirshana, nauli, savasana. That's hatha yoga in a nutshell of only 11 postures.

[Willem]

Oops! Forgot one pose: sarvangasana, halasana, matsyasana, paschimottanasana, bhujangasana, salabhasana, dhanurasana, ardha-matsyendrasana, sirshana, nauli, savasana. That's hatha yoga in a nutshell of only 11 postures.

[siva]

Originally Posted by Willem

Oops! Forgot one pose: sarvangasana, halasana, matsyasana, paschimottanasana, bhujangasana, salabhasana, dhanurasana, ardha-matsyendrasana, sirshana, nauli, savasana. That's hatha yoga in a nutshell of only 11 postures.

Willem,
I don't believe nauli is considered an asana, but rather a kriya. I think the eleventh asana from Swami Sivananda is trikoanasa, completing the series with lateral flexion?

Originally Posted by yoga-yoda

I wondered what these poses are. And also how they relate to a modern yoga practice, where there are so many different asanas to practice.

We might think of these as "classical" because they are the starting point, the trunk of the tree, the core of learning asana. They are associated with balance and strength of the spine. They follow a pose-counterpose sequence and are in and of themselves complete: a beginning and an end.

You will notice that many so called "modern" asanas involve the extremities. Some are actually stretches, or for strength, others are simply stunts, fun in advanced practice, but not so useful in the process of "teaching" asana. They are involutions. "Classical" wisdom tells us to be concerned with the spine, the core, and the extremities will follow, and not the other way around.

Good questions!

peace and happy practice,
siva

[Pandara]

As a teacher, student and yogi of Sivananda yoga, there are actually 12 asanas which Swamiji taught, they are:

1. Headstand (Sirshasana)
2. Shoulderstand (Sarvangasana)
3. Plough (Halasana)
4. Fish (Matsyasana)
5. Forward bend (Paschimothanasana)
6. Cobra (Bhujangasana)
7. Locust (Shalabhasana)
8. Bow (Dhanurasana)
9. Spinal twist (Ardha Matsyendrasana)
10. Crow pose (Kakasana) or Peacock pose (Mayurasana)
11. Standing forward bend (Pada Hasthasana)
12. Triangle (Trikonasana)

Variations are permitted so the range would widen. Strictly speaking we do a 13th asana namely the corpse pose in relaxation, but usually most teachers don't count it as part of the above 12 asanas.

[siva]

Pandara,

Om namah sivaya buddy,

You're correct. Beat me to it. Thanks.

Om Bolo Sad Guru Sivananda Maharaj
Jai

siva

[Willem]

Thanks Pandara (and Siva)! I was wondering where trikonasana would go in the series, and know I know. Namasté.

[yoga-yoda]

Thanks to all of you for the replying. However, there is one thing I would like to add is are all of these classic asana worth while practicing. The reason I say this is due to an article I found on this site: http://www.yogaforums.com/forums/f18/halasana-2595.html
The article was about a discussion about the Halasana and that some feel that it is dangerous to perform. While I read the posting I understood it as the way it has been taught, rather than the asana itself. While its the singer and not the song you could say. Just that I was wondering what was peoples thoughts on this matter of should some posture be given a wide berth????

[Willem]

Yoga (poses) should always be adapted to the individual. The student needs to know where (s)he is going. And one should strike a proper balance between safety and effectiveness.

So it is a matter of the singer (student), conductor (teacher) and the song (asana). Singers start off with practicing scales and "Three Blind Mice" and end up with Mozart arias!

Amongst the poses found in the classical texts, I believe that sirshasana, dhanurasana, kurmasana, padmasana, mayurasana and kukutasana are not for beginners. Students need to prepare properly, and this can take years for some. That depends on .... the singer and the conductor.

So you cannot really say that some poses should be given a wide berth. It depends.

[siva]

Willem,

You are also correct. "Classical" in no way means "for beginners." The series that Sivananda outlines can take months and years to build, and only for those without physical limitation.

siva