In this chapter BKS Iyengar states:
Of the eight limbs of Ashtanga Yoga, asanas are particularly valuable in preserving health and fitness. Through the practice of asanas, the practitioner gains control of the body and the mind and converts them into a vehicle fit for the soul.
He goes on to say that there are innumerable asanas that effect the entirety of the body including all of its systems, organs and glands. He also includes the mind and consciousness which are often overlooked in most fitness classes.
These innumerable asanas are the result of the deep dive the sages took into studying all of the different forms of life and the intricacies of movement. The number of asanas, according to the sage Gorakasanath is 8,400,000. While some might see this number as an exaggeration Iyengar asks us to look at how a slight change in physical movement or placement of the limbs can cause a dramatic change in effect. Even variations of a single asana may have a profoundly different effect from the classical version of the same asana.
He asks us to verify that fact with the following experiment:
Stand straight with the arms stretched out to the sides and the palms facing the ground. Stay in this position for a short while. Now, keeping the upper arms undisturbed, turn the palms up to face the ceiling. Note the sharp change in sensation along the outer edge (thumb side) of the arm, starting at the wrist and working up to the shoulder. Note how the back of the arms, the shoulder blades and the sides of the trunk feel more compact and elevated with just a minor rotation of the wrist. Thus, although “arms stretched sideways” seems like a single pose, from the perspective of physical effects, “palms turned up” and “palms turned down” may well be two different postures. Counted in this manner, the number of physical movements attainable could easily equal 8,400,000. This profusion of movements nurtures and vitalizes every cell of the body.
In order for yoga to have its profound effect on every cell of the body, it is important to not confine your practice to a few select asanas (read: doing only those poses you like and steering clear of the poses you don’t like.)
Even the simplest asanas yield remarkable benefits. However, it is important to study them carefully and practice them with intense awareness. This requires a thorough knowledge of the working of the body.
Beginners are often totally ignorant of common body parts, their locations and functions. Some cannot even differentiate right from left, let alone inner thigh as opposed to outer thigh. The practice of yoga is a process of becoming acquainted with the oneself limb by limb. As the practice matures, so does knowledge of the self.
Novice practitioners become familiar with their own physiology, mental states and changes that they undergo in relation to the asana practice. They begin to question their beliefs and wonder about their true nature. Asanas help to cultivate the body and mind to reap the bounty of health and harmony. This encourages the practitioner to probe deeper into the Self; and thus begins the inward journey. The physical practice now turns into a spiritual quest.
The omnipresent Ishvara who pervades every atom of the universe, also resides in every cell of the human body. The body is thus a temple that houses the divine spirit. Through the practice of asana and pranayama the practitioner probes this divine element within.