- This is a list of 8 principles of asana that help every body in every posture to achieve greater stability (stihra) and ease (sukha). They are applicable to all asanas and are a good reminder to go through during practice.
- It is composed of 4 pairs of oppositional actions that balance each other out and keep the body engaged and the spine straight.
- Different asanas require different balances of course.
- Example: Warrior 2 external rotation of the thighs, Warrior 1 internal rotation of the thighs
| Action | Cue | Bandha |
| 1. Internal rotation of the thighs | “Press down through the balls of the big toes and heels” “Spiral the upper thighs in” | Pada Bandha (Foot lock) |
| 2. External rotation of the thighs | “Press down through the outer edge of the foot” “Spiral the upper thighs out” | |
| 3. Press the upper thighs back | “Press the tops of the femur bones back” | Mula Bandha (Root lock) & Uddiyana Bandha (Abdominal lock) |
| 4. Lift the lower belly in and up | “Engage the core and send the sit bones down and back” “Tuck the tailbone under” | |
5. Press the lower ribs back | “Press the floating ribs back towards the spine” | Jalahandara Bandha (Neck lock) |
| 6. Lift the bons behind the ears | “Lengthen through the back of the neck and pull the chin slightly under” | |
| 7. Press the thumb and root of index finger down | “Spread the fingers wide, middle finger pointing forward, wrist crease forward” | Hasta Bandha (Hand lock) |
| 8. External rotation of the upper arms | “Spiral the upper arms out and rotate the shoulders down” |