There are several yoga postures, each suits varying body needs, age, and mental activities. Practicing yoga are done either on a mat or any soft supportive surface. Some postures even need the supervision of a yoga instructor.

While Asana is an example of physical exercise, Hatha is a set of Asanas that has specific purpose. Other yoga postures are suited for relieving back pains. It is advisable to hold each yoga postures from five to ten seconds but it depends on the level of comfort.

Asana is most commonly practiced for body cleansing and keeping a good
health. Mainly focused on breathing exercises, Asana keeps the body relaxed, improves blood circulation, and reduces back and shoulder pains. Learning a varied breathing techniques is a requirement in practicing Asana to be able to maximize its benefits. Yoga after all is a combination of breathing techniques, meditation, postures, and visual improvements.

The Asana also increases endorphins, which are hormone-like substances in the body. The increasing endorphins help in reducing pain. This is because endorphins contain amino acids that are attach to receptors, which in turn stop pain signals in the brain.

A posture that is designed to align skin, muscles, and bones is called the Hatha (Ha-ta) yoga. In Sanskrit, Hatha means forceful or willful. Hatha yoga is composed of a variety of sequences that open several body channels such as the spine to make the energy flow smoothly in the body.

Another example of posture is Adho Mukha Svanasana. This posture is part of the traditional Sun Salutation sequence. It is best to stay for at least one to three minutes in this posture. But while yoga postures are a way to reduce stress and improve body functions, it is not an end itself. Practicing yoga is aligned with good outlook in life.