Asana & Pranayama in the Yoga Sutras: Beyond the Body, Toward the Unlimited
When most people today hear the word “asana,” they think of postures: downward dog, headstand, a flowing vinyasa. Step into almost any modern yoga studio, and the focus is on sequences that build strength, flexibility, and sweat.
Yet, when we turn to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali—one of the most authoritative and respected texts of Yoga—the picture is very different. Patanjali devotes only three sutras to asana, and none of them describe elaborate postures or acrobatic flows. Instead, they cut straight to the essence: steadiness, ease, awareness, and transcendence.
The Three Sutras on Asana
II:46 — sthira sukham asanam: posture should be steady and comfortable.
II:47 — prayatna shaithilya ananta samapattibhyam: asana is mastered by loosening effort and meditating on the unlimited.
II:48 — tato dvandva anabhighatah: from that comes freedom from the pairs of opposites.
What do these verses mean for practice?
Asana is not about performing endless postures.
The main aim is to sit steadily, comfortably, and quietly.
Over time, effort softens and awareness expands beyond the body.
True practice leads to freedom from dualities—hot/cold, pain/pleasure, success/failure.
This understanding is radically different from much of modern yoga culture. For Patanjali, asana was never about stretching further or perfecting shapes. Its purpose was simple yet profound: to prepare the body to sit in meditation, to stabilise awareness, and to ensure the body would not be a barrier to inner practice.
The Transition to Pranayama
Once the body is steady, Patanjali guides us to the next step: pranayama. In II:49 he writes: tasmin sati shvasa prashvasayoh gati vicchedah pranayamah—“the asana having been done, pranayama is the cessation of inhalation and exhalation.”
Here again, he does not describe techniques. For detailed methods, we must look to the Hatha Yoga texts. But the principle is clear: after steady posture, one turns to the regulation, lengthening, and eventual suspension of breath.
II:50: pranayama is external (exhalation), internal (inhalation), or suspended (kumbhaka). Regulated by place, time, and number, the breath becomes long and subtle.
II:51: a “fourth” type appears—often linked to kevala kumbhaka, the spontaneous suspension of breath that arises naturally, not through deliberate control.
At this point, the practitioner is no longer manipulating the breath. The breath itself dissolves into stillness.
Why Pranayama Matters
The next two sutras reveal why pranayama is so vital. In II:52, Patanjali writes: tatah kshiyate prakasha avaranam—“then the covering of the light of the citta is removed.” Through pranayama, the veil of tamas (inertia) and rajas (restlessness) is lifted, allowing sattva (clarity and harmony) to shine. The mind becomes luminous and sharp, capable of perceiving reality without distortion.
In II:53, Patanjali concludes: dharanasu ca yogyata manasah—“and the mind becomes fit for dharana (concentration).” Without pranayama, the mind remains clouded and restless. With it, the inner faculties awaken, and the practitioner becomes truly ready for dharana, dhyana, and ultimately samadhi.
The SKY Perspective
Some modern approaches reduce pranayama to stress relief or treat asana as a workout. But for us at SKY Yoga and Meditation, these practices hold a deeper meaning. We teach asana as a way to cultivate steadiness, awareness, and transcendence—not as performance. We guide pranayama as the bridge between body and mind, a vital step to remove the coverings of citta and prepare the mind for meditation.
In our classes and teacher trainings, students experience this authentic progression:
From body → steady in asana
To breath → refined in pranayama
To mind → clarified and ready for meditation
To the unlimited → beyond body and mind
This is the arc of Yoga that Patanjali envisioned. When the body is steady, when the breath is subtle, when the mind is clear—Yoga begins.
Key Takeaways
Patanjali dedicates just three sutras to asana, emphasising stability and comfort.
The purpose of asana is to prepare the body for meditation, not to perfect countless postures.
Pranayama bridges body and mind, refining awareness through breath regulation and suspension.
Its highest aim is removing the veil over the mind, making it fit for dharana and deeper meditation.
At SKY Yoga and Meditation, we honour this authentic lineage: from body, to breath, to mind, to the unlimited.
Learn and Practice with SKY Yoga and Meditation
We’re SKY Yoga and Meditation, a Yoga school and studio located in a beautiful jungle eco-village in Pejeng, Bali. Our mission is simple but profound: to share Yoga as authentically as possible, rooted in tradition and lineage, while offering a space for deep practice and transformation.
If you feel inspired to explore these teachings further, we welcome you to join us:
200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Bali — a foundational, immersive program designed to give you not only teaching skills but also a living experience of authentic Hatha Yoga.
300-Hour Advanced Yoga Teacher Training — for those ready to deepen their path, refine their practice, and step into the next level of teaching and self-mastery.
Weekly Yoga and Meditation Classes — open to all, held in our bamboo shala overlooking the lush Ubud jungle, offering a taste of SKY’s unique blend of traditional teaching and supportive community.
Whether you are preparing to teach, seeking to deepen your personal practice, or simply curious to begin, SKY provides the guidance, environment, and authenticity that allow Yoga to unfold in its truest sense.
For more details or a fast answer to your questions, send us an email or WhatsApp us directly. We’d love to welcome you into our community here in Bali.
