Asana (Posture / Pose)

Āsana means "seat, posture, or way of sitting" in Sanskrit. Originally, it referred to a steady and comfortable seated position for meditation, but in modern Yoga, it is widely used to denote physical poses in general.

It is the third limb of Yoga's Eight Limbs and is considered crucial as a preparatory stage for stabilizing the mind and body, leading to meditation. It is not merely physical exercise but a practice for confronting oneself, connecting body and consciousness, and refining inner sensations. Its essence is defined as steadiness (Sthira) and comfort (Sukha).

Used to refer to Yoga practice in general, as in "asana practice." Also used to denote individual poses (e.g., "Mountain Pose is an asana called Tadasana"). Instructors convey not just the physical form of the pose, but also the underlying principles of "steadiness and comfort."