Asana is a firm, comfortable and pleasant posture. Among the benefits it brings are: firmness, health, lightness of limbs, mental balance, reduction of fatigue, calm nerves…
Yoga asanas are a way to bring clarity as action from any position, when the mind is silent we can control it, and the object of perception is ourselves. In a sense yoga brings attention to ourselves.
When a person sits in the lotus position he becomes a lotus, when he is in cobra position, he becomes a cobra. Thus there is a communion between the body, the mind and the consciousness. Every asana has its benefit, which creates biochemical changes in the body. They act in a somatic-psychic way: from the body to the mind. Perfection in asana is achieved when effort ceases, and relaxation is obtained by maintaining stability and consciousness.
When we work on the body we activate the energy centers called chakras. We have seven chakras arranged along the spine. Muladhara or root chakra is the one located at the base of the spine between the anus and the genitals. It is associated with survival and the color red. Its element is the earth. Then comes Svadishtana or abode of being. Its location is the pelvis. Associated with the element water and the orange color. In third place in ascending order we find Manipura or the seat of the soul, it is located in the solar plexus (navel). Its color is yellow and the element is fire. The fourth chakra is Anahata or purity, the chakra of universal love. It is located in the center of the heart. Its color is green and the element is air. Vishuddha or purity is located in the throat area. Its color is turquoise and the element is also air. Ajna is the inner perception, intuition or third eye. Its location is between the eyebrows. The color associated with this chakra is blue and the element is light. The seventh and last chakra is Sahasrara or thousand-petalled lotus flower. It is located on the crown of the head. The color is white or violet and the element is the spirit. Each of these chakras has its mantra or bija, (seed). Lam, Vam Ram, Yam, Ham, Om (respectively). Om or AUM is the sound of the absolute.