The body is at once calmed down in its metabolic process, and hunger and thirst are lessened. The forces of hunger and thirst are symptoms of an agitation of the Prana, and when the Prana is set in harmony, the agitation should come to a minimum. Hence, the student s hunger and thirst are reduced to the least. The cells of the body find more time to construct themselves rather than deplete energy and make progress through mellowed emotion. Even emotions can be subdued by Asana, for here one inhales and exhales calmly, and so the cellulary activity of the body comes down, the nerve-channels are opened up for a rhythmic flow of the Prana, and a rhythm sets in everywhere.
Yoga is rhythm.
Asana is therefore the beginning of Yoga, wherein one starts relating oneself to the cosmic order.