Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Yoga Asanas

Yoga Asanas

The practice of Yoga Exercises means practicing both your body and your mind. It takes willpower and perseverance to accomplish each Yoga Pose and to practice it daily. But the prize for your perseverance is really worth all the hard work. The practice of Yoga Exercises or Asanas can improve your health, increase your resistance, and develop your mental awareness. Doing the Yoga Poses requires you to study each pose and execute it slowly as you control your body and your mind. Know the different Yoga Exercises, Postures, and Poses in the following sections:

Warm-Up Poses
In general, warming up depends on the Yoga Style that you practice. This section covers some Warm-Up exercises that you can do prior to a Yoga class or session.

  • Neck Exercises Many people hold tension in their necks and shoulders, leading to stiffness, bad posture, and tension headaches. Yoga practice can ease tension, increase flexibility, and tone the muscles. Learn some Neck Exercises in this section.
  • Shoulder Lifts Many people hold tension in their necks and shoulders, leading to stiffness, bad posture, and tension headaches. Yoga practice can ease tension, increase flexibility, and tone the muscles. This section covers the steps on how to practice Shoulder Lifts.
  • Shoulder Stretches Shoulder Stretches are great in relieving stress and tension on your shoulders, as well as your entire upper back. Practice them daily for several weeks and notice the changes. Learn some basic stretches for the shoulders in this section.
  • Cat Pose (Bidalasana) The Cat Yoga Pose teaches you to initiate movement from your center and to coordinate your movement and breath. These are two of the most important themes in Yoga practice. Keep in mind that the Cat Pose may not be advisable if you have any chronic or recent back pain or injury.
  • Eye Training Like any other muscles, the eye muscles also need exercise to be healthy and strong. By moving the eyes in every direction, without turning your head at all, these Five Yoga Eye Exercises will strengthen the eye muscles, help prevent eyestrain, and improve eyesight.

Standing Poses
Learn how to practice the different Standing Poses - Triangle Pose, Hands to Feet, Standing Side Stretch Pose, Stand Spread Leg Forward Fold, Warrior Pose, Tree Pose, and Sun Salutation

Triangle Pose (Trikonasana)
In Hindu art, the triangle is a potent symbol for the divine principle, and it is requently found in the yantras and mandalas used for mediation. The Trikonasana or Triangle Pose concludes the Yoga Postures in our basic session.

Warrior Pose I (Virabhadrasana I)
The Warrior Pose I stretches and strengthens the arms and legs, increases stamina, improves balance and concentration, and can also relieve backaches. If you are suffering from diarrhea, high blood pressure or neck problems, you should take extra caution practicing this pose.

Warrior Pose II (Virabhadrasana II)
This posture strengthens your legs, back, shoulders, and arms, building stamina. It opens your hips and chest, and improves balance. It is called the Warrior in reference to the fierce warrior, an incarnation of Shiva. Learn how to do the second Warrior Pose in this section.

Warrior Pose III (Virabhadrasana III)
Warrior Pose III is the third variation of Virabhadrasana. This pose helps improve balance and stability while strengthening your ankles and legs. As with all other poses, make sure to perform it correctly to achieve optimum results. Learn how to do the Warrior Pose III in this section.

Wide-legged Forward Bend (Prasarita Padottanasana)
This is a good stretching exercise that reduces the stiffness, tiredness and tension in the muscles in your hind legs. At the same time, the muscles of the back and the neck are thoroughly stretched and you learn to deal with possible stretching aches.

Chair Pose I (Utkatasana I)
A strong straight lower back is the foundation of every correct position. In doing the Chair Pose, you strengthen the lower back and the legs and by doing so, you create more space in the chest and belly. Check out this section and learn how it is done.

Chair Pose II (Utkatasana II)
Unlike in the Utkatasana I, the Chair Pose II involves bending the upper body from the hip until it becomes parallel to the floor. Learn how to perform the Chair Pose II in this section. You can use our animation as your guide as well as our easy-to-understand steps.

Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana)
Doing a Standing Forward Bend can completely stretch your upper and lower back as well as your calf muscles and legs. In addition, it can help increase the flow of brain in the brain. Know more about Standing Forward Bend in this section.



Hands to Feet (Pada Hastasana)
The Hands to Feet Pose or Pada Hastasana gives many of the same benefits as the Forward Bend - trimming the waist, restoring elasticity to the spine, and stretching the ligaments of the legs, especially the hamstrings. Learn how to do the Hands to Feet Pose in this section.

Standing Side Stretch Pose
This side stretch will increase the flexibility of your spine, arms, and rib cage as it stimulates the liver, kidney, and spleen functions. Furthermore, the Yoga Pose will also help realign your spinal column and will aid the lungs to take in more oxygen. Learn how to perform this pose in this section.

Tree Pose (Vrksasana)
The Tree Pose helps strengthen your thighs, calves, ankles and back. It can also increase the flexibility of your hips and groin. Your balance and concentration can also be improved with constant practice. This Yoga Pose is recommended for people who have sciatica and flat feet.




Seated Poses
There are poses which can be done while sitting. In this section, know how to do the various Seated Poses such as Spread Leg Forward Fold, Hero Pose, Seated Forward Bend, and Child Pose.

Spread Leg Forward Fold (Upavista Konasana)
The Spread Leg Forward Fold is a Yoga Posture which works primarily on the hamstrings and adductors. This energizes the body and promotes inner calmness. In this section, know more about this exercise and learn how to perform it properly.

Hero Pose (Virasana)
One of the fundamental seated postures is the Hero Pose. This serves as the initial position for several asanas. It strengthens the arches of the feet, stretches the ankles, and improves posture. This yoga Pose is ideal for people who have flat feet.

Seated Forward Bend (Paschimothanasana)
Relax your body and mind, stretch your hamstrings, shoulders, and spine, relieve stress, and improve your posture and concentration by practicing the Seated Forward Bend. Learn how to do this properly and achieve maximum results.

Child Pose
The Child Pose is a gentle way of stretching your shoulders, hips, thighs, ankles, and back muscules. It is a relaxation posture which is done to normalize the circulation after performing the Headstand and to serve as counterpose after Backbends.

Twist Yoga Poses
Aside from strengthening the back, the Half-Spinal Twist and Sage Twist are Yoga Poses which tone and massage the abdominal area and improve digestion.

Half Spinal Twist (Ardha Matsyendrasana)
If done properly, the Half Spinal Twist lengthens and strengthens the spine. It is also beneficial for your liver, kidneys, as well as adrenal glands. Practice this Yoga Pose under the supervision of a Yoga instructor. In this section, learn how to perform the Half Spinal Twist.

Sage Twist (Marichyasana)
Also called Marichi's Yoga Pose, the Sage Twist Pose benefits the abdominal organs and spine. Avoid doing this pose if you have chronic spine or back injury. Also, perform this only under the supervision of a Yoga instructor. Learn how to do the Sage Twist in this section.

Supine Poses
This section covers several Yoga Poses which are done in supine (lying face up) position - Leg Reclining Lunge, Locust Pose, Leg Pulls, Leg Raises, and Wind Relieving Pose.


Finishing Poses
The Corpse Pose or Savasana and the Final Corpse are Yoga Poses which are usually practiced as final relaxation at the end of a Yoga Session.


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