In Sanskrit, asana literally means "seat." In classical yoga texts it referred to the seated posture adopted for meditation - steady, comfortable, held without strain. Today, asana is the word for any yoga posture: the standing, seated, twisting and resting shapes that make up a class.
The plural, asanas, covers everything from a simple cross-legged seat to advanced balances. What unites them is intention: an asana is not a stretch, it is a posture held with attention to breath, alignment and ease.
Benefits of a regular asana practice include improved mobility and joint health, functional strength, better posture and body awareness, and a calmer nervous system - because every posture is practiced alongside controlled breathing.
At Zuga Fitness, asanas are the building blocks of every live class. Hatha sessions hold them longer to refine alignment; Vinyasa sessions link them into flowing sequences. Your instructor watches your asanas on camera and corrects them in real time - the difference between copying a shape and actually practicing it.
New to the vocabulary? Start with our live beginner classes and the terms will become second nature within a month.