The practice of yoga is a healthy habit that promotes greater awareness, flexibility, discipline, and ease of movement. Whether done to improve your posture or prevent physical ailments, these poses, or asanas, are a great way to align body, mind,
and spirit.
and spirit.
Crossed Legged Pose, Siddhasana
This seated posture strengthens the psoas muscle, the spine, and muscles of the back. It improves range of movement of the knees and hips. Cross-legged pose is a good precursor to more advanced half and full lotus positions.
, improves strength and flexibility of shoulder joint and shoulder blades. Practice this pose to lengthen the Achilles tendon and strengthen the ankle.
Tree Pose, Vrksasana
Standing tall like a tree strengthens and tones the muscles of the leg, knee, and ankle. This pose also helps bring awareness to the feet and their connection to the ground, building balance and poise.
Triangle Pose, Trikonasana
Trikonasana improves the flexibility of the spine, reduces backache, and stretches and strengthens the hips and the pelvis. This asana also reduces menstrual discomfort.
Warrior 2, Virabhadrasana 2
This strong-legged pose broadens the chest to improve breathing. It also helps treat a slipped disk or broken tailbone and relieves lower back pain.
Revolved Head to Knee, Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana
This pose lengthens the side of the body, creating more space between the ribs and hips. In addition, it stretches the hamstrings, inner and outer thighs, and hips and provides relief for backaches.
Bound Angle Posture, Baddhakonasana
A pose that can be practiced regularly, even during menstruation and pregnancy. Baddhakonasana increases blood flow to the abdomen, pelvis, and back. It helps treat arthritis of the knee, pelvic joints, and hip.
Headstand, Salamba Sirsasana
This inverted posture builds stamina, alleviatesinsomnia, helps cure halitosis (bad breath), relieves the symptoms of colds, coughs, and tonsillitis, and brings relief from digestive and eliminatory problems when practiced with shoulder stand.
Upward-Facing Bow (Wheel), Urdhva Dhanurasana
This backbend improves blood circulation particularly through the arteries of the heart. Upward-facing bow also strengthens the abdominal and pelvic organs, prevents a prolapsed uterus, helps prevent excess menstrual flow, and eases menstrual cramps.
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