Standing asanas

Two major sources of these asanas have been identified: the exercise sequence Surya Namaskar (the salute to the sun); and the gymnastics widely practised in India at the time, based on the prevailing physical culture.

These changes enabled yoga to be practised as a flowing sequence of movements rather than as static poses, and in turn this allowed sessions to focus on aerobic exercise.

[4] It may be far older than that; a 7th-century stone carving in Mahabalipuram appears to contain a figure standing on one leg, perhaps indicating that a pose similar to Vrikshasana was in use at that time.

[11] Some, such as Tadasana, appear in the 1896 Vyayama Dipika, a manual of gymnastics, as part of the "very old" sequence of danda (Sanskrit for "staff" or "stick") exercises.

[14] He and his rival Yogendra began to combine asanas with Indian systems of exercise and modern European gymnastics, having according to the scholar Joseph Alter a "profound" effect on the evolution of yoga.

"[19] Norman Sjoman argues that Krishnamacharya drew on the Vyayama Dipika[20] gymnastic exercise manual to create the Mysore Palace system of yoga.

Such a sequence could be performed quickly if desired, making for aerobic exercise, possibly at the expense of a more meditative practice.

In its modern form, it was created and popularised by the Rajah of Aundh, Bhawanrao Shriniwasrao Pant Pratinidhi, early in the 20th century.

[37] Its standing poses, integral to modern international yoga as exercise and the vinyasas used in some styles to transition between the asanas of Surya Namaskar, vary somewhat between schools.

The rock relief " Descent of the Ganges " at Mahabalipuram appears to show a person standing in Vrikshasana (tree pose) at top left. [ 1 ] 7th century
Prajnaparamita seated in Padmasana for meditation , Java. 13th century
Natarajasana in Bharatanatyam classical Indian dance: the pose was not considered yoga until the 20th century. [ 5 ]
Utkatasana shown as a low squatting pose in the 19th century Sritattvanidhi in Mysore Palace ; the modern pose is a standing squat.
Downward Dog is one of the most widely-recognised asanas. [ 13 ]
Surya Namaskar , the salute to the sun, was taught as exercise and not as yoga in the 1930s, before it was incorporated into modern yoga as exercise . [ 34 ]