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Assam ASSEB HSLC Elective Yoga & Physical Education study materials
Assam ASSEB HSLC Elective Yoga & Physical Education study resources

Assam ASSEB HSLC Elective Yoga & Physical Education practice questions

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Question 1Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

In classical yoga terminology, what does the word 'yoga' most directly mean?

  1. A form of ritual fasting
  2. A system of competitive gymnastics
  3. Physical exercise performed only for muscle growth
  4. Union or yoking of individual consciousness with universal consciousness Correct answer.

Explanation

The Sanskrit root 'yuj' means to join or yoke, and classical texts use yoga to describe the union of the individual self with the universal self. This meaning underlies the whole philosophical tradition, not merely its physical practices.

Question 2Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

The sage credited in tradition as the compiler of the Yoga Sutras is:

  1. Charaka
  2. Patanjali Correct answer.
  3. Sushruta
  4. Kautilya

Explanation

Patanjali is traditionally regarded as the compiler of the Yoga Sutras, the foundational text of classical yoga philosophy. The text systematises earlier scattered teachings into 196 aphorisms arranged in four chapters.

Question 3Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

How many limbs (angas) make up the classical Ashtanga path described by Patanjali?

  1. Four
  2. Six
  3. Eight Correct answer.
  4. Twelve

Explanation

Ashtanga literally means 'eight-limbed', and the path comprises yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. These eight limbs progress from ethical restraint to meditative absorption.

Question 4Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

Which pair correctly matches a yama with its meaning?

  1. Brahmacharya - non-possessiveness
  2. Asteya - truthfulness
  3. Ahimsa - non-violence Correct answer.
  4. Aparigraha - celibacy or continence

Explanation

Ahimsa means non-violence or harmlessness and is the first of the five yamas. Each yama has a fixed meaning in the classical list, so the other pairings are mismatched.

Question 5Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

Which text is the principal classical source for the physical postures (asana) and breath control (pranayama) later developed by Hatha yoga?

  1. Bhagavad Gita
  2. Nyaya Sutras
  3. Hatha Yoga Pradipika Correct answer.
  4. Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

Explanation

The Hatha Yoga Pradipika, attributed to Svatmarama, describes asanas, pranayama, mudras and cleansing techniques in practical detail. It is a core Hatha text, distinct from Patanjali's more philosophical Yoga Sutras.

Question 6Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

In the Yoga Sutras, 'chitta vritti nirodha' is best translated as:

  1. Cessation of the modifications of the mind Correct answer.
  2. Attainment of supernatural powers
  3. Mastery of the physical body
  4. Recitation of sacred syllables

Explanation

Chitta refers to the mind-stuff, vritti to its modifications or fluctuations, and nirodha to cessation or restraint. Patanjali opens the Sutras by defining yoga as the stilling of these mental fluctuations.

Question 7Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

The four main classical paths (margas) of yoga traditionally include Karma, Bhakti, Jnana and which fourth?

  1. Hatha yoga
  2. Kundalini yoga
  3. Raja yoga Correct answer.
  4. Power yoga

Explanation

The classical four paths are Karma (action), Bhakti (devotion), Jnana (knowledge) and Raja (meditative control of the mind). Hatha and modern styles are later developments or sub-branches rather than one of the four classical margas.

Question 8Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

The first two limbs of Ashtanga yoga, yama and niyama, are chiefly concerned with:

  1. Meditative absorption
  2. Ethical restraints and observances Correct answer.
  3. Physical flexibility
  4. Advanced breathing ratios

Explanation

Yamas are social restraints such as non-violence and truthfulness, while niyamas are personal observances such as cleanliness and contentment. Together they form the ethical foundation that precedes posture and breath practice.

Question 9Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

A student practises truthfulness in speech and refuses to steal credit for a colleague's work. Which yamas is the student directly observing?

  1. Saucha and tapas
  2. Ahimsa and aparigraha
  3. Dharana and dhyana
  4. Satya and asteya Correct answer.

Explanation

Satya is truthfulness and asteya is non-stealing, so honest speech and refusing to take another's credit map exactly onto these two yamas. The other pairs either belong to niyamas or to later limbs.

Question 10Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

Which statement best captures the aim of Raja yoga?

  1. Perfecting the body through extreme physical postures
  2. Achieving worldly prosperity through ritual
  3. Gaining mastery over the mind through meditation and ethical discipline Correct answer.
  4. Developing martial combat skills

Explanation

Raja yoga, the 'royal path', centres on controlling the mind through the eight limbs, culminating in meditation and samadhi. Its goal is mental mastery and liberation rather than physical display or worldly gain.

Question 11Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

According to Patanjali's definition, the purpose of yoga practice is to:

  1. Accumulate ritual merit for material reward
  2. Attain mastery over other people
  3. Increase body weight and muscle mass
  4. Still the fluctuations of the mind so the seer rests in its own nature Correct answer.

Explanation

Patanjali states that when the mind's modifications are stilled, the seer abides in its own essential nature. The aim is therefore self-realisation through mental stillness, not physical or social gain.

Question 12Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

The niyama 'santosha' refers to:

  1. Contentment Correct answer.
  2. Self-study
  3. Austerity
  4. Purity

Explanation

Santosha means contentment, the practice of remaining satisfied without craving more. It appears among the five niyamas alongside saucha, tapas, svadhyaya and ishvarapranidhana.

Question 13Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

Which of the following best describes the aim of Hatha yoga as presented in its classical manuals?

  1. Purifying and strengthening the body to support higher meditative practice Correct answer.
  2. Replacing meditation entirely with physical exercise
  3. Studying grammar and logic
  4. Achieving competitive athletic records

Explanation

Hatha manuals present asana, pranayama, mudra and cleansing kriyas as a means of preparing the body and energy for Raja-style meditation. The physical work is instrumental, not an end in itself.

Question 14Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

The five yamas listed in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras are ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya and:

  1. Svadhyaya
  2. Saucha
  3. Tapas
  4. Aparigraha Correct answer.

Explanation

Aparigraha, non-possessiveness, completes the five yamas. Saucha, tapas and svadhyaya belong to the niyamas and are therefore not part of the yama list.

Question 15Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

A teacher explains that asana becomes steady and comfortable, and thereafter effort in posture should give way to relaxation into the infinite. This teaching comes from:

  1. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras Correct answer.
  2. The Ramayana
  3. The Arthashastra
  4. Sushruta Samhita

Explanation

The Yoga Sutras define asana as steady and comfortable, achieved by relaxing effort and meditating on the infinite. This is a well-known sutra formulation in the Sadhana Pada.

Question 16Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

The eight limbs of Ashtanga yoga, taken in correct order, begin with yama and end with:

  1. Dhyana
  2. Pranayama
  3. Samadhi Correct answer.
  4. Pratyahara

Explanation

The sequence runs yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. Samadhi, complete absorption, is the eighth and final limb.

Question 17Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

Which pairing of a limb with its meaning is correct?

  1. Pratyahara - withdrawal of the senses from external objects Correct answer.
  2. Dharana - complete absorption without any object
  3. Pranayama - ethical restraint in speech
  4. Dhyana - regulation of the breath

Explanation

Pratyahara is the withdrawal of the senses, turning attention inward from external stimuli. The other options attach the wrong definitions to dharana, pranayama and dhyana.

Question 18Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

A school wants to introduce a yoga programme with the stated aim of holistic development of body, mind and spirit. Which classical justification best supports this aim?

  1. Yoga is a religious ritual reserved for priests
  2. Yoga integrates ethical conduct, physical practice, breath control and meditation into one path Correct answer.
  3. Yoga is a purely medical therapy for disease
  4. Yoga is valuable mainly because it improves competitive performance

Explanation

The eight-limbed framework combines ethics, posture, breath, sense withdrawal and meditation, which is why it is described as holistic. This integration of body, mind and spirit is the classical basis for such a programme.

Question 19Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

The Bhagavad Gita presents Karma yoga primarily as:

  1. Logical debate about the self
  2. Withdrawal into a cave for lifelong silence
  3. Rigorous physical posturing
  4. Selfless action performed without attachment to results Correct answer.

Explanation

Karma yoga in the Gita is the discipline of acting duty-bound without clinging to the fruits of action. This transforms ordinary work into a spiritual path.

Question 20Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

Historically, which development most directly transformed yoga from a meditative discipline into a popular system of physical postures in the modern world?

  1. The revival and global spread of Hatha-based asana practice in the twentieth century Correct answer.
  2. The composition of the Yoga Sutras
  3. The founding of the Nyaya school
  4. The writing of the Arthashastra

Explanation

Modern teachers in India and abroad popularised Hatha-derived asana sequences during the twentieth century, giving yoga its present physical emphasis. The Yoga Sutras and other classical texts predate this development and were not physically oriented.

Question 21Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

A practitioner can concentrate on a chosen object but cannot yet sustain that concentration effortlessly for long periods. According to the Ashtanga sequence, which limb is being practised and which is not yet established?

  1. Pratyahara is being practised; asana is not yet established
  2. Samadhi is being practised; pranayama is not yet established
  3. Dharana is being practised; dhyana is not yet established Correct answer.
  4. Dhyana is being practised; dharana is not yet established

Explanation

Dharana is the effortful fixing of attention on one object, while dhyana is the sustained, effortless flow of that attention. Since concentration is possible but not yet continuous, the practitioner is at dharana and has not reached dhyana.

Question 22Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

Why is Patanjali's yoga often called 'Raja yoga' and distinguished from Hatha yoga?

  1. Raja yoga rejects all ethical rules, while Hatha yoga insists on them
  2. Raja yoga emphasises mental discipline and meditation, while Hatha yoga emphasises bodily purification and technique Correct answer.
  3. Raja yoga is a modern fitness style, while Hatha yoga is ancient
  4. Raja yoga is practised only by kings, while Hatha yoga is for commoners

Explanation

The label Raja yoga highlights the primacy of mental mastery in Patanjali's system, whereas Hatha traditions foreground asana, pranayama, mudra and cleansing. The distinction is one of emphasis within a shared tradition, not of social class.

Question 23Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

A student claims that because the Yoga Sutras mention asana only briefly, postural practice has no legitimate place in yoga. Which evaluation is most defensible?

  1. The claim is strong because Patanjali forbade physical practice
  2. The claim is weak because asana is one of the eight limbs, and later Hatha texts developed it in detail Correct answer.
  3. The claim is weak because the Yoga Sutras contain no limbs at all
  4. The claim is strong because postures were invented only in the twentieth century

Explanation

Asana is explicitly the third limb, so physical practice is integral even if the Sutras treat it concisely. Later Hatha manuals expanded asana and pranayama into detailed technique, confirming its legitimate place.

Question 24Foundations of Yoga: meaning, history, aims and schools

Which statement most accurately reflects the relationship between the aims of yoga and the concept of liberation (moksha) in classical thought?

  1. Liberation is attained solely by physical flexibility
  2. Liberation is the ultimate aim, and ethical, physical and meditative practices are means toward it Correct answer.
  3. Liberation is irrelevant to yoga, which aims only at fitness
  4. Liberation is a modern psychological term with no classical basis

Explanation

Classical yoga treats liberation from suffering and rebirth as the final goal, with the limbs serving as graduated means to that end. Physical and ethical practices are therefore instrumental rather than ultimate.

Question 25Yogic principles and philosophy (Patanjali, Ashtanga, Hatha)

In Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, the second sutra defines yoga as chitta-vritti-nirodhah. What does this phrase most directly mean?

  1. The complete stilling of the modifications of the mind Correct answer.
  2. The steady practice of seated physical postures
  3. The cultivation of devotion to a personal deity
  4. The purification of the body through breath control

Explanation

Yoga Sutra 1.2 states 'yogash chitta-vritti-nirodhah', where chitta is mind-stuff, vritti are its modifications or fluctuations, and nirodhah is restraint or stilling. The definition concerns mental processes rather than the body or devotion. This sutra is the foundation on which the rest of the Ashtanga scheme rests.

Question 26Yogic principles and philosophy (Patanjali, Ashtanga, Hatha)

The eight limbs of Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga begin with yama. Which set correctly lists the five yamas?

  1. Saucha, santosha, tapas, svadhyaya, ishvara pranidhana
  2. Ahimsa, saucha, tapas, svadhyaya, samadhi
  3. Asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana
  4. Ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya, aparigraha Correct answer.

Explanation

The five yamas are non-violence (ahimsa), truthfulness (satya), non-stealing (asteya), sexual restraint or continence (brahmacharya), and non-possessiveness (aparigraha). They form the first limb and are social restraints. The other lists mix yamas with niyamas or with later limbs.

Question 27Yogic principles and philosophy (Patanjali, Ashtanga, Hatha)

A practitioner can hold a steady, comfortable seated posture for a long period but still experiences strong likes and dislikes toward sensory objects. According to Ashtanga Yoga, which limb directly addresses withdrawal of the senses from external objects?

  1. Pratyahara Correct answer.
  2. Dharana
  3. Pranayama
  4. Yama

Explanation

Pratyahara is the fifth limb and is defined as the disengagement of the senses from their objects, drawing them inward. Dharana is the subsequent fixing of attention, while pranayama works with breath and yama with ethical restraint. The described situation of sensory pull is precisely what pratyahara trains.

Question 28Yogic principles and philosophy (Patanjali, Ashtanga, Hatha)

In Hatha Yoga texts, the term 'hatha' is commonly explained as the union of two forces. Which pair is meant?

  1. Ha as sun and tha as moon Correct answer.
  2. Ha as breath and tha as mind
  3. Ha as body and tha as soul
  4. Ha as guru and tha as disciple

Explanation

Hatha is traditionally glossed as ha (sun) and tha (moon), symbolising the balancing of the solar and lunar channels, ida and pingala. The aim is to unite these opposite energies and awaken sushumna. The other pairs do not match the standard etymology.

Question 29Yogic principles and philosophy (Patanjali, Ashtanga, Hatha)

In the Hatha tradition, the three principal nadis are ida, pingala and sushumna. What is the usual role assigned to sushumna?

  1. The network of small channels spread through the limbs
  2. The central channel through which kundalini rises Correct answer.
  3. The right channel associated with heating energy
  4. The left channel associated with cooling energy

Explanation

Sushumna is the central nadi running along the spine, and kundalini is said to ascend through it when ida and pingala are balanced. Ida is the left, lunar channel and pingala the right, solar channel. The many minor channels are simply called nadis generally.

Question 30Yogic principles and philosophy (Patanjali, Ashtanga, Hatha)

The Yoga Sutras describe five kleshas as the root afflictions of the mind. Which option names them correctly?

  1. Sattva, rajas, tamas, purusha, prakriti
  2. Ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya, aparigraha
  3. Avidya, asmita, raga, dvesha, abhinivesha Correct answer.
  4. Dharana, dhyana, samadhi, pratyahara, pranayama

Explanation

The five kleshas are ignorance (avidya), egoism (asmita), attachment (raga), aversion (dvesha) and fear of death or clinging to life (abhinivesha). Avidya is regarded as the root of the other four. The remaining options list yamas, limbs, or metaphysical categories.

Question 31Yogic principles and philosophy (Patanjali, Ashtanga, Hatha)

A student is easily distracted by memories of past events during meditation. In Patanjali's framework, which pair of practices is specifically recommended to counter the wandering of the mind toward past impressions?

  1. Abhyasa and vairagya Correct answer.
  2. Mantra and yajna
  3. Asana and mudra
  4. Tapas and svadhyaya

Explanation

Yoga Sutra 1.12 states that the fluctuations are restrained by practice (abhyasa) and non-attachment (vairagya). Abhyasa is sustained effort and vairagya is the letting go of craving and identification. Together they address the mind's tendency to drift toward old impressions.

Question 32Yogic principles and philosophy (Patanjali, Ashtanga, Hatha)

Which statement best captures the relationship between dharana, dhyana and samyama in Patanjali's system?

  1. Samyama is a yama concerned with truthfulness in speech
  2. Samyama is a physical lock performed during pranayama
  3. Samyama is the combined practice of dharana, dhyana and samadhi on one object Correct answer.
  4. Dharana and dhyana are identical and samyama replaces both

Explanation

Samyama is the technical term for the sustained application of dharana, dhyana and samadhi together on a single object. The three are successive stages of increasing absorption. It is not a physical technique or an ethical rule.

Question 33Yogic principles and philosophy (Patanjali, Ashtanga, Hatha)

In the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, which practice is described as the most important of the cleansing techniques because it purifies the nadis and prepares the body for pranayama?

  1. Trataka
  2. Nauli
  3. Neti Correct answer.
  4. Kapalabhati

Explanation

The Hatha Yoga Pradipika presents neti among the shatkarmas and stresses purification of the nadis as a prerequisite for pranayama. Cleansing prepares the subtle channels so that breath control can proceed safely. The other techniques serve different purposes within the shatkarma set.

Question 34Yogic principles and philosophy (Patanjali, Ashtanga, Hatha)

Patanjali describes the five yamas as mahavratas. What does this term imply?

  1. They are universal vows applying regardless of birth, place, time or circumstance Correct answer.
  2. They are vows taken only by renunciates in monasteries
  3. They are optional vows chosen according to personal preference
  4. They are temporary rules observed only during festival days

Explanation

The Mahabharata and the Yoga Sutras call the yamas mahavratas because they are great, universal vows not limited by caste, place, time or situation. They are binding for all who follow the path. This universality distinguishes them from limited ritual observances.

Question 35Yogic principles and philosophy (Patanjali, Ashtanga, Hatha)

A teacher asks a student to practise santosha. Which behaviour best reflects this niyama in daily life?

  1. Giving away all possessions to become poor
  2. Chanting scriptures aloud for long hours
  3. Deliberately inflicting pain on oneself to build endurance
  4. Remaining content with what one has without grasping for more Correct answer.

Explanation

Santosha means contentment, the practice of accepting one's circumstances without craving. It is a niyama and supports steadiness of mind. Self-torture, ritual recitation and forced poverty belong to other concepts or to misreadings of renunciation.

Question 36Yogic principles and philosophy (Patanjali, Ashtanga, Hatha)

In the Yoga Sutras, the term 'vritti' refers to which aspect of mental life?

  1. The physical postures of the body
  2. The final state of liberation
  3. The modifications or fluctuations of the mind Correct answer.
  4. The ethical rules of conduct

Explanation

Vrittis are the changing patterns or modifications that arise in chitta, such as correct knowledge, error, imagination, sleep and memory. Yoga is defined as their stilling. The term does not refer to postures, ethics or liberation itself.

Question 37Yogic principles and philosophy (Patanjali, Ashtanga, Hatha)

According to the Yoga Sutras, which of the following is one of the five kinds of vritti?

  1. Physical pain in the joints
  2. Memory of past experience Correct answer.
  3. Desire for wealth
  4. Deep sleep without dreams

Explanation

The five vrittis are pramana (valid knowledge), viparyaya (error), vikalpa (imagination), nidra (sleep) and smriti (memory). Memory of past experience is smriti. Pain and desire are not among the five categories of mental modification.

Question 38Yogic principles and philosophy (Patanjali, Ashtanga, Hatha)

A Hatha text advises that pranayama should be practised only after the nadis are purified. Which reasoning best explains this instruction?

  1. Pranayama is forbidden for householders until they renounce the world
  2. Nadi purification is needed only to improve the voice for chanting
  3. Impure nadis cause breath to move irregularly, so forced control may disturb the vital energies Correct answer.
  4. Purified nadis make the body heavier and thus easier to control

Explanation

Hatha texts warn that when the nadis are obstructed, pranayama can force the vayus irregularly and cause harm. Cleansing through shatkarma and steady asana is therefore prescribed first. The aim is safe, balanced movement of prana, not weight gain or vocal training.

Question 39Yogic principles and philosophy (Patanjali, Ashtanga, Hatha)

In Patanjali's list of the eight limbs, which limb immediately follows pranayama?

  1. Pratyahara Correct answer.
  2. Samadhi
  3. Dharana
  4. Asana

Explanation

The eight limbs proceed as yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana and samadhi. Pratyahara, the withdrawal of the senses, comes directly after pranayama. Dharana and samadhi come later, and asana comes earlier.

Question 40Yogic principles and philosophy (Patanjali, Ashtanga, Hatha)

Which pair correctly matches a niyama with its meaning?

  1. Asteya - non-violence toward living beings
  2. Saucha - non-possessiveness
  3. Svadhyaya - study of scripture and self-reflection Correct answer.
  4. Tapas - contentment with what one has

Explanation

Svadhyaya combines scriptural study with self-inquiry. Asteya is non-stealing, tapas is disciplined austerity, and saucha is purity or cleanliness. Only the first pair matches the traditional meaning.

Question 41Yogic principles and philosophy (Patanjali, Ashtanga, Hatha)

A practitioner reports that during meditation the object of concentration is held for a while, then awareness flows continuously toward it without effort, and finally the sense of the observer fades. Which sequence of limbs does this describe?

  1. Pratyahara, pranayama, asana
  2. Dharana, dhyana, samadhi Correct answer.
  3. Yama, niyama, asana
  4. Asana, pranayama, pratyahara

Explanation

Dharana is the initial fixing of attention, dhyana is the continuous flow of awareness, and samadhi is absorption in which the sense of a separate observer dissolves. The described progression matches these three inner limbs. The other sequences describe earlier or unrelated stages.

Question 42Yogic principles and philosophy (Patanjali, Ashtanga, Hatha)

In the Yoga Sutras, what is the significance of Ishvara pranidhana?

  1. It is the practice of holding the breath for long periods
  2. It is the study of grammar and logic
  3. It is surrender to a distinct supreme being and is presented as a direct aid to samadhi Correct answer.
  4. It is the ritual worship of ancestors

Explanation

Ishvara pranidhana is devotion or surrender to Ishvara, a special purusha untouched by affliction and karma. Patanjali presents it as a means to attain samadhi. It is not breath retention, ancestor worship or academic study.

Question 43Yogic principles and philosophy (Patanjali, Ashtanga, Hatha)

Which description best matches the Hatha text's understanding of a bandha?

  1. A vow of silence observed during practice
  2. A seated posture held for long periods
  3. A cleansing technique for the stomach
  4. A lock that redirects the flow of prana within the body Correct answer.

Explanation

Bandhas such as mula, uddiyana and jalandhara are locks that restrain and redirect prana. They are used with asana and pranayama to support concentration. Postures, cleansing kriyas and vows of silence are distinct practices.

Question 44Yogic principles and philosophy (Patanjali, Ashtanga, Hatha)

Patanjali defines asana in the Yoga Sutras with two qualities. Which pair is given?

  1. Sthira and sukha - steady and comfortable Correct answer.
  2. Sukha and raga - pleasant and attached
  3. Dukha and tamas - painful and inert
  4. Sthira and himsa - firm and forceful

Explanation

Yoga Sutra 2.46 defines asana as sthira sukham asanam, meaning a posture that is steady and comfortable. Force and attachment are not part of the definition. This definition is often cited as the basis for a balanced seated posture.

Question 45Asanas: classification, technique, benefits and contraindications

In the traditional classification of asanas used in school yoga syllabi, which group is primarily performed in a seated position to promote steadiness and calm?

  1. Meditative asanas Correct answer.
  2. Cultural asanas
  3. Relaxative asanas
  4. Surya Namaskar asanas

Explanation

Meditative asanas such as Padmasana, Siddhasana and Swastikasana are seated postures designed to hold the body steady and quiet for pranayama and dhyana. Cultural asanas are the wider group of stretch and strengthen postures, while relaxative asanas are lying postures such as Shavasana.

Question 46Asanas: classification, technique, benefits and contraindications

A student holds Bhujangasana and is told to keep the navel region on the floor while raising the chest. Which body position defines this asana?

  1. Prone position Correct answer.
  2. Inverted position
  3. Supine position
  4. Seated position

Explanation

Bhujangasana is a prone (lying face down) backward-bending posture in which the palms are placed near the chest, the legs stay together and the lower body remains on the ground while the chest lifts. The navel staying down confirms the prone base.

Question 47Asanas: classification, technique, benefits and contraindications

Which asana is performed lying on the back with both knees drawn towards the chest and held by clasped hands?

  1. Viparita Karani
  2. Matsyasana
  3. Pavanamuktasana Correct answer.
  4. Dhanurasana

Explanation

Pavanamuktasana, the wind-relieving pose, is done supine with the knees folded to the chest and the hands clasping them, which massages the abdominal organs. Dhanurasana is prone, Viparita Karani is a legs-up posture and Matsyasana is a supine backbend with the chest lifted.

Question 48Asanas: classification, technique, benefits and contraindications

In Vrikshasana, which part of the body bears the entire weight of the practitioner?

  1. The head
  2. Both hands
  3. Both heels
  4. One leg Correct answer.

Explanation

Vrikshasana is a one-legged standing balance in which the other foot is placed on the inner thigh or calf and the palms are joined overhead. All body weight is supported by the standing leg, which is why balance and focus are trained.

Question 49Asanas: classification, technique, benefits and contraindications

Which of the following is the correct final position of Halasana?

  1. Body arched backwards with the crown of the head on the floor
  2. Legs taken overhead and toes touched to the floor behind the head Correct answer.
  3. Body balanced on the forearms with legs lifted together
  4. Legs raised straight to ninety degrees while lying supine

Explanation

Halasana, the plough pose, is entered from a supine position by lifting the hips and taking the legs overhead until the toes touch the floor beyond the head. The knees stay straight and the chin is pressed towards the chest.

Question 50Asanas: classification, technique, benefits and contraindications

Which asana is classically described as the posture for pranayama and dhyana because it gives a firm, steady seat with the spine erect?

  1. Shalabhasana
  2. Trikonasana
  3. Padmasana Correct answer.
  4. Bhujangasana

Explanation

Padmasana, the lotus pose, locks the legs crossed on the thighs and keeps the trunk upright, giving a stable base for long periods of breathing practice and meditation. The other options are cultural asanas for flexibility and strength rather than meditative seats.