The term asana means sitting in a particular posture, which is comfortable and which could be maintained steadily for a long time. Asana gives stability and comfort, both at physical and mental level.

There may be variations in the techniques of some of the asanas depending upon the following yoga institutions.

Asana may broadly be classified into three categories:
(a) Cultural or Corrective asana
(b) Meditative asana
(c) Relaxative asana

Cultural asanas can further be classified into two groups, depending on the effects produced:
(i) asana that works through and on the spine and visceral organs.
(ii) asanas that work through the skeletal muscles, ligaments and joints.

Meditative asanas are those asanas which are aimed at quiet sitting and are used for higher practices in yoga. padmasana, swastikasana, sukhasana and siddhasana can be put in this category.

Relaxative asanas are those which remove tension and bring about physical as well as mental relaxation. The important asanas in this category are shavasana and makarasana.