top of page

By:

Asha Tripathi

14 April 2025 at 1:35:28 pm

Stop Comparing, Start Growing

Success does not grow in comparison; it grows in focus. Over the years, women have made significant strides in every sphere of life. From managing homes to leading organisations, from nurturing families to building successful careers, women have proved that strength and resilience are deeply rooted in their nature. Financial independence has become a significant milestone for many women today, bringing with it confidence, dignity, and the freedom to shape one’s own destiny. However, along...

Stop Comparing, Start Growing

Success does not grow in comparison; it grows in focus. Over the years, women have made significant strides in every sphere of life. From managing homes to leading organisations, from nurturing families to building successful careers, women have proved that strength and resilience are deeply rooted in their nature. Financial independence has become a significant milestone for many women today, bringing with it confidence, dignity, and the freedom to shape one’s own destiny. However, along with growth has come another silent challenge — the tendency to constantly observe, compare, and sometimes even compete with the journeys of others. But a crucial question arises: Is it necessary to track the growth of others in order to grow ourselves? From my personal experience of more than two decades as an entrepreneur, I have realised something very powerful — true growth begins the moment we stop looking sideways and start looking within. A Small Beginning I had a flourishing career of teaching abroad, but when I restarted my career after moving back to India, my beginning was extremely small. My very first assignment was a simple home tuition for a single student, and the amount I earned was meagre. There was nothing glamorous about it. No recognition, no large batches, no big earnings. Just one student and one opportunity. But instead of worrying about how others were doing, how many students they had, or how much they were earning, I made a conscious decision—my only focus would be on improving myself. I focused on teaching better, preparing better, and becoming more disciplined and consistent. And slowly, without even realising it, things began to grow. One student became two, two became a small group, and gradually, over the years, the work expanded beyond what I had initially imagined. Looking back today, I can confidently say that the growth did not happen because I competed with others. It happened because I competed with myself yesterday. Comparison Creates Noise When we keep watching others' journeys too closely, we unknowingly divert our own energy. Comparison creates unnecessary noise in our minds. It brings doubts, insecurities, and sometimes even negativity. Instead of walking our own path with clarity, we start questioning our speed, our direction, and our worth. True success grows through focus, not comparison. Every woman has her own story, her own pace, and her own struggles that others may never see. The path of one person can never be identical to another's. So comparing journeys is like comparing two different rivers flowing towards the same ocean — each with its own route, its own curves, and its own rhythm. As women, we already carry many responsibilities. We balance emotions, relationships, work, and society's expectations. In such a life, the last thing we need is the burden of comparison with one another. Instead, what we truly need is support for each other. When women encourage women, something extraordinary happens. Confidence grows. Opportunities multiply. Strength becomes collective rather than individual. There is enough space in the world for every woman to create her own identity. Each of us can build our own niche without stepping on someone else's path. Choose Encouragement Envy weakens us, but encouragement empowers us. Rather than questioning how someone else is progressing, we can ask a more meaningful question: "How can I grow a little better than I was yesterday?" Lift As You Rise Today, after twenty years of experience, the most valuable lesson I have learned is simple yet profound — focus on your own work with honesty and dedication, and success will quietly follow you. We, women, are capable, resilient, and creative. We do not need to pull each other down or compete in unhealthy ways. Instead, we can lift each other up while building our own dreams. Because when one woman rises, she does not rise alone. She inspires many others to believe that they can rise, too. And perhaps that is the most beautiful form of success. (The writer is a tutor based in Thane. Views personal.)

Asana in Classical Yoga: Preparing the Body for Higher Practice

Asanas are not just yoga poses but the groundwork upon which pranayama, meditation, and higher yogic disciplines rest.


In the modern world, yoga is often reduced to a set of physical stretches or fitness routines. However, this limited view overlooks the profound depth of yoga as a complete science of life. Yoga is not merely about shaping the body; it is a disciplined path that refines the body, steadies the mind, and ultimately awakens inner awareness. Maharshi Patanjali, the great yogic seer, systematised this ancient wisdom into the eightfold path known as Ashtanga Yoga—Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi. Among these, Asana, the third limb, plays a pivotal role by preparing the physical body as a stable and sacred foundation for higher yogic practices. 


Asana is far more than a physical posture. It is a conscious, disciplined state of the body held with awareness, balance, and reverence. Ancient yogic philosophy regards the human body as a sacred instrument—a temple through which spiritual evolution unfolds. Therefore, asana is understood as a posture assumed with steadiness, alertness, and deep respect for the body’s innate intelligence. 


In the early stages of practice, asana may involve effort, discipline, and physical exertion. Over time, with regular and mindful practice, this effort gradually dissolves into ease and stability. Patanjali defines 'asana' with a timeless and profound sutra:


“स्थिरसुखमासनम्”

This sutra emphasises that an ideal posture is both steady and comfortable. Here, comfort does not mean indulgence or passivity; rather, it refers to a state free from strain, where the body is stable and the mind remains calm, alert, and inwardly focused.


The Hatha Yoga Pradipika further explains that the practice of asanas brings firmness to the body, health to the organs, and lightness to the entire system. Classical yogic texts consistently present yoga as a progressive inner journey—beginning with mastery over the body and culminating in mastery over the mind and realisation of the self.


The connection between body and mind is inseparable. Physical discomfort often disturbs mental peace, while unresolved mental stress frequently manifests as physical tension or disease. Through the systematic and conscious practice of asanas, this imbalance is gradually corrected. The muscles, joints, internal organs, endocrine glands, and nervous system are strengthened and harmonised, while mental restlessness begins to subside.


Regular asana practice enhances flexibility, strength, balance, coordination, circulation, and immunity. More importantly, it cultivates emotional stability, patience, and inner equilibrium. When the body becomes steady and free from discomfort, the practitioner gains the ability to sit comfortably for extended periods—an essential prerequisite for pranayama, meditation, and higher yogic disciplines. 


During the practice of asana, each posture is held for a specific duration with smooth, rhythmic breathing. Patanjali highlights that postures that allow the body to remain stable and relaxed for long periods are especially suitable for yogic practice. According to the Gheranda Samhita, there are symbolically 8.4 million asanas, representing the vast diversity of living forms, out of which 84 asanas are considered important for human practice.


Asanas make use of the full potential of the human body—its joints, muscles, flexibility, alignment, and relationship with gravity. Based on their purpose and functional nature, asanas are broadly classified into three main categories:


1. Meditative Asanas

These postures are designed to create a firm base, an erect spine, and symmetrical alignment, making them ideal for meditation and breath practices.


Examples include Padmasana, Siddhasana, Vajrasana, and Swastikasana.


2. Cultural (Dynamic) Asanas

These involve movement and are practised for strength, flexibility, and physiological balance. They are further classified according to body position:


Standing Postures: Tadasana, Trikonasana, Parshvakonasana, Vrikshasana


Seated Postures: Gomukhasana, Paschimottanasana


Prone Postures: Makarasana, Bhujangasana, Shalabhasana, Dhanurasana


Supine Postures: Pawanmuktasana, Uttanapadasana, Halasana, Chakrasana, Shavasana 


3. Balancing Asanas

These asanas cultivate physical balance along with mental focus, alertness, and discipline. Examples include Garudasana, Mayurasana, Bakasana, and Kukkutasana. 


Ultimately, asana is not merely about stretching muscles or strengthening the body. It is a disciplined yogic practice that harmonises posture, breath, and awareness. When performed with regularity, correct technique, and proper guidance, asanas prepare the practitioner for deeper yogic experiences such as pranayama, meditation, and self-inquiry.


Thus, asana stands as a vital gateway in the yogic path—bridging the physical and the spiritual. Through this essential limb, the practitioner begins a transformative journey from bodily awareness to inner stillness, balance, and self-knowledge.


(The writer is a yoga educator and researcher based in Pune. Views personal.)

Comments

bottom of page