Sanskrit: Asana
Pronunciation: AH-sah-nah
Translation: Seat or posture
What it is: The physical postures practised in yoga. Asana is one of the eight limbs of yoga as described by Patanjali. While yoga encompasses far more than physical practice, asana is the most visible and widely practised aspect in the West.
Context: There are hundreds of asanas, ranging from simple seated positions to complex arm balances. The word appears as a suffix in most pose names: Tadasana, Savasana, Virabhadrasana.
Purpose: Originally, asana was practised to prepare the body for extended periods of seated meditation. Today it also serves as a complete physical practice for strength, flexibility, and body awareness.