According to Maharishi Patanjali, Yoga Asanas or yoga poses when perfected gives freedom from pairs of opposites such as heat and cold, good and bad, pain and pleasure, etc. This leads to stability of the mind. The mind maintains equanimity in all situations. Hence, yoga poses start working from the gross physical level to the subtle levels of the mind.

Relaxation Poses like Shavasana, Jyestikasana, Advasana, Makarasana, Matsya kridasana are used for relaxing the body and mind. Use them as resting poses before/after or between other asanas.

Meditative Poses like Padmasana, Siddhasana, Ardha Padmasana, Vajrasana and Bhadrasana are used for sitting still in meditation for a prolonged duration.

Most of the other asanas are classified under the cultural category which build strength and flexibility. Sirsasana, Bhujangasana, Halasana, Sarvangasana, Ustrasana, Paschimottanasana, Ardha Matsyendrasana, Chakrasana, Dhanurasana, Simhasana, Trikonasana, Naukasana, Ardha Kapotasana, Gomukhasana, Marjariasana, etc. are commonly listed into the cultural category.

Each yoga asana or yoga pose has its own physical and spiritual benefits. For example: Peacocks have good digestive power. Hence by performing Mayurasana or the peacock pose, one gets good digestive power and relieves constipation.

There are also yogic poses to improve balance of the body like Tadasana, Vrikshasana, Natarajasana, Virabhadrasana, Ardha Chandrasana, Garudasana, Vasisthasana, etc.

Other series of poses like the Surya Namaskara or sun salutation gives a good workout to the entire body and burns enough calories and hence good for weight management.