Steady Joyful Seat
Sthira Sukham Asanam. A common phrase we’ve maybe had recited to us in a group yoga class across
the valley. Where does this originate and what does this mean? Furthermore, why is this attributed to
stability? What is yoga?
The phrase sthira sukham asanam originates in the yoga sutras. More specifically it is a sutra referenced
in book 2 sutra number 46 or 2.46. Sthira in Sanskrit translates to steady or stable, sukham comfort or
good space, and asanam is a seat. “Steady stable comfortable seat”. Originally it referred to the quality of
one's meditation pose, yet in many modern yoga classes this sutra applied to all yoga postures. While very
true, achieving steadiness in posture is a solid approach to our asana practice, let's be open to applying
this sutra elsewhere.
The yoga sutras of Patanjali are a collection of foundational texts of classical yoga philosophy. “Sutra”.
being a bead of knowledge added to a thread. There are 196 sutras all together, and as a full collection
they lay out a guide on how one would practice yoga, leading us to one day (or lifetime) attain samadhi
(enlightenment), or kaivalya (liberated or independent of all bondage).
When thinking of yoga, most of us imagine yoga poses, group classes, a person seated meditating. So how
does this sutra, “steady seat” fit into these imaginings, and how would we practice this?
Becoming established in a steady joyful seat requires us to connect to the rhythms of our breath, to the
happenings within present space. As westerners we tend to follow the schedule of a clock, rhythms of life
outside of ourselves, rather than connecting to the very rhythms within. Yoga is the very practice of
connecting to these internal rhythms and complete presence.
While physical asanas are more widely known and taught. For most of us, sitting without adjusting or
moving for 5 minutes may not be ideal, some might consider it quite impossible. Yet, with strategic
movements and stretches generating the right amount of heat and focus, may aid a few of us in being able
to meet 5 full seated unadjusted minutes successfully. This is generally why we are more familiar with
asanas before we understand the nature of yoga itself. Creating an environment in our body that is strong
enough to maintain steady, flexible enough to have a comfortable and joyful disposition all while sitting.
When we step to our mat, beginning our sequence of postures, our teacher directing our focal points helps
us to remain steadily focused within the posture, unable to follow the chaotic mind into our day to day
activities as we are fully enveloped in the physical happenings currently on our mat. Our teacher, hearing
our breath patterns, directs us to breathe a certain way to enter or exit the poses, and while maintaining the
poses with our focal point we are encouraged to seek a more controlled rhythm of breath, stabilizing the
mind even more as well as the physical nature of the required muscles to hold within the asana.
As with anything in life, the more we practice the more able we become. Routine will become the
benchmark in integrating steady, comfortability, ease, and strength within our life.
Attending a class here and there will not create the same awareness as practicing daily does. Take care to
keep your routine workable and pliable so that this too does not become another life demand.
Discipline and routine can be set but not linear. When we travel and find ourselves out of our normal
rhythms we can still commit to getting up at a certain time, adhere to a similar diet, we can modify to
shorter versions of physical practice while continuing our dedication without it becoming so rigid that we
are then unable to also enjoy the moments.
This quality of nourishing rhythm and steadiness of mind is carried with us off of our mat into our daily
lives. Grounding us in the steady, stable, joyful existence. The longer we practice the more ingrained and
natural these practices become.
“You should not be practicing to have a ‘good’ practice, but instead to keep a steadiness within yourself” -Sharath Jois
