Day 17 Sutras 2:47 By lessening the natural tendency for restlessness and by meditating on the infinite, posture is mastered.
Asana or posture is the third limb of yoga after yama and niyama and is an easier starting point for yoga than changing our attitudes. Attitudes and behaviours are mindset changes. Physical postures or asana are another way to reduce the obstacles to Yoga.
On Day 3, we discovered that asana is a steady comfortable posture (sutra 2:46). Postures involve body movement and are exercise. In this sutra, Patanjali says that steadiness and comfort in postures can be achieved by curbing the restlessness of the mind and through meditating on the infinite – something that is vast and solid.
For example, in tadasana, the mountain posture, one can be like a huge, steady mountain - grounded, centred, still, peaceful, etc.
Asana practice helps to reduce the harmful consequences of the obstacles or kleshas on the physical body. As the body becomes more flexible and fit and well-being flourishes, you can do self-study through asana and understand yourself better.
When you achieve stillness in postures, the mind will also become still. Then you are not affected by dualities (hot, cold, praise, scolding...) you are unattached.
Patanjali is brief in his discussion of asana and doesn't discuss how to do postures as the postures are intended to be learned from a competent teacher.
