何謂體位法⼤師？

由於當代瑜伽就是等於體位法，所以「練瑜伽」變成了「練動作」。

傳統上，瑜伽⼀直是關於⾝體和⼼理的穩定，不單是哈達瑜伽，其他瑜伽派別，例如奉愛瑜伽，也是如此。

瑜伽，是⼀個健全⾝⼼穩定的⼯具。《帕坦伽俐瑜伽經1.2》，瑜伽被解釋為「⼼念之⽌息」——⼼的意念不再波動；《奉愛經 （Narada Bhakti Sutra 6）》則說，「當愛沈浸著奉愛者(Bhakta)」就是⾝體與圓滿⼼智狀態的穩定。

譚崔(Tantra)和哈達(Hatha)瑜伽傳統利⽤⾝體體式練習作為修煉的⼀個⽅法，有其多種原因，從引導⽣命能量（Pranic currents)到訓練強健⾁體，但他們的⽬的都非常的清楚，那就是「穩定的⾝體」。

這就是為什麼傳統上體位法的⽬標不是「動來動去」⽽是「靜下來」。體位法修煉的⽬標是

「Asana Siddhi ( Asana 是指體位法，Siddhi是指修成成果或神通）」，並且誰能精通體位法，

就稱為「Asana Siddha (Siddha意指修成正果者或集⼤成者）」。

⼀旦瑜伽⼠培養出Asana Siddhi，也就是能穩定坐著，如此⼀來，就能去練習更細微的調息法、誦念、專注和禪定，透過穩定⾝體和平和⼼智，進⽽快速精進個⼈修為。

印度瑜伽⼠中有種說法，就是如果您能坐下來超過三個⼩時不動，就是Asana Siddha；不過，

這並沒有⼀個標準的測試。

現在，重點來了。

要練成Asana Siddha，也就是體位法⼤師，並不⼀定需要練習動態體位法。

我知道很多瑜伽⼠，包括出家⼈和在家修⼠，從來沒有像我們⼀樣練習體位動作，卻依然能夠靜靜坐下來幾個⼩時禪定與誦念。

因此，我們學習到以下幾點：

第⼀，記得體位法只是⼀個⼯具⽽不是⽬的。

第⼆，Asana Siddhi 是⼀種透過練習⽽來的技能，不是獎項或認可。

第三，不要等到「精通」體位法之後， 才開始重視如調息和禪坐等靜⼼練習（我通常會建議初學者， ⼀個⼩時的課堂包含四⼗分鐘動作和⼆⼗分鐘的靜⼼）

第四，你越不執著於體位法，越有可能幫助你的⼼放下⼈的⾁體層⾯，並且開放⾃⼰去體驗更細微層⾯的「你」

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原文：

In contemporary Yoga, because Yoga is equated to physical Asana, Yoga has come to be understood as a ‘Movement practice’.

Traditionally though, Yoga has always been about physical & mental stillness. This is not just in Hatha, but also in paths like Bhakti Yoga.

Yoga is a means to complete mind-body stillness. In Patanjala Yoga this is indicated as ‘Vritti Nirodha’ (PYS 1.2), cessation of mental currents, and in Narada Bhakti Sutra, the mark of a love immersed Bhakta (devotee) is said to be stillness of body and content state of mind (NBS 6).

The Tantra & Hatha traditions do use physical Asana movement practices as a modality for multiple reasons, from channeling Pranic currents, to limber up, but their goal is very clear – physical stillness.

This is why, traditionally, the goal of Asana is not in movement but in stillness. The goal of Asana practice is ‘Asana Siddhi’ – mastery of Asana, and the one who has mastered the Asana is called an Asana Siddha.

Once the Yogin cultivates Asana Siddhi, i.e, can sit still, subtler practices like Pranayama, Japa, Dharana, Dhyana improve exponentially via a steady body & a calm mind (Sthira & Sukha).

Amongst the Yogis in India, it is said that you are an Asana siddha once you can sit in one place for 3 hours or so – but there is no standard test like this per se.

Now comes the best part.

To become an Asana Siddha – to gain Mastery of Asana, one may not even do dynamic Asana practices.

I know of many Yogins – both, renunciate and householders, who have never practiced Asana movements as we do now, yet can sit still for hours on doing their Japa and Dhyana.

What is the takeaway for us then,

1) Remember, Asana practice is a means & not the end.

2) Asana Siddhi is a practiced skill – it is not an award or recognition.

3) Do not wait to ‘master’ physical posture practice, give equal importance to stillness practices like Pranayama & Dharana. (I usually prescribe 40 mins movement + 20 mins stillness for 1 hour class for beginners.)

4) The less you obsess over your Asana practice, the more you will take your mind away from the physicality of your personality and open yourselves to the subtler aspects of You.