Too often, in yoga class, we think of an asana as something we need to do just right, or we think of it as just a temporary portion of our hour or two hour long Yoga class; however, while the literal translation of asana is simply “pose” or “Posture,” asana means much more.

In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, it is defined as that which is stable and sustained. This means we have not achieved true asana until we are able to hold a posture comfortably; to be at ease in it. This is different, of course, than merely “doing it.”

That may be surprising, but I am not saying you are no longer good, or need to throw out the progress you have made on certain poses; I am merely offering a different way to approach Yoga practice, one which helps us to be mindful of the fact that, although Yoga is very good for our physical bodies, its true purpose is to free and clear our minds and to heal our souls, or prepare us for oneness.

We are not really practicing unless we are present in the body, breathing, moving, and, yes, sustaining. Dynamic movement and breath are a wonderful part of our practice, but, eventually, we must learn the other half of yoga, which is stillness.

At its most perfect, any practice is a combination of doing and non-doing. If this sounds difficult to understand, let the breath teach you. Take your attention, right now, to your breath and let it show you how it comes and goes with such ease. You are the one breathing, and, certainly, breath is your choice, but breath also happens.

This movement; this constant, present, unending, singular motion of inhale and exhale, is the perfect example of doing and non-doing. Your breath is a continuum which starts from the moment of your birth and ends at the moment of your death. It is your perfect Yoga teacher.

Now, back to sustaining...

So, on the mat, we have this approach of gentleness with ourselves, but we also have something else: We have will, we have intention. We come to our practice open, willing to learn, to let the doing bring in the non-doing; to let intention manifest into healing or greater knowledge. But there is one more thing on the mat with us.

Ego is there. Ego approaches asana like it approaches everything else: “Look what I can do!” it says. We each want to get “the pose.” Unfortunately, this is why so many of us never really do get it.

“The Pose” is nothing by itself. The process of coming into and out of each pose, increasing in each pose, and being fully present in each pose is where Yoga is. So, if you are on your mat “doing” the pose, you are not in that pose, you are in ego. You are doing, but the non-doing, the stillness, is missing.

Your teacher knows this. She says, “relax, let go, breathe into the tension.” This is the part of Yoga that is asana. “Relax, breath in to the tension, and let go” are the same thing as saying, “sustain, become comfortable, be in the pose.” Otherwise, you are not practicing.

Without true asana, our practice is physical fitness or stretching. This is why our instructor is constantly calling us back, back, out of ego, who is “doing,” and into asana, which is both doing and non-doing.

Asana is not a perfect, beautiful posture. Asana meets you where you are. It is the crossroads of your intention and your surrender. You cannot do it; you must simply learn to be in it.