each asana is described with some paragraphs of instructions, and illustrated with one or more photographs. the student is instructed how to stand, and which limbs should be straight. for many poses, the claimed medical benefits are then described, without adduced evidence. the term vinyasa is used with the meaning of "stage in the execution of an asana". for example, sarvangasana is introduced with the words "this has 12 vinyasas [stages]. the 8th vinyasa is the asana sthiti [the actual pose]."