Sphinx pose (Salamba Bhugangasana) is the gentlest of the backbend poses. This pose is similar to cobra pose and can be done by people of all levels of practice. While this asana can easily be performed by most beginners, if you have a back injury, strain or headache, you may want to skip this pose. Ask your doctor or yoga teacher for advice before trying this pose. Sphinx stretches the back, opens the chest, stretches the shoulders and chest and firms the abdomen. This asana offers several benefits, including stress relief, fatigue, and toning and strengthening the abdomen, buttocks and … Continue reading →

Garland Pose (Malasana in Sanskrit) is a pose that requires balance and flexibility. This asana can be done by anyone with enough practice. To move into garland pose, begin by moving into a squatting position. Your feet should be close together and your heels as close to the floor as possible. In this pose, the thighs should be positioned a little bit wider than the torso and the upper body should be slightly forward and in between the thighs. This helps to lengthen the spine and improves stability in the pose. To help improve alignment and stability in the pose, … Continue reading →

Side crane pose (Parsva Bakasana in Sanskrit) is an advanced arm balance pose. This asana requires upper body strength and balance. There are several benefits to side crane pose. This asana strengthens the upper body, including arms, shoulders and wrists. In addition, the back is strengthened and the twisting motion offers additional benefits. Begin by moving into a half squatting position on your mat with your heels touching the floor and your hands resting on the mat. Take your left arm and move it to the outside of the right thigh. Begin to twist your body to the right. Twist … Continue reading →

Upward plank pose (Purvottanasana in Sanskrit) is an arm balance pose that can be done by people of all levels of experience. you need some strength in the arms and wrists to support yourself in this pose, but everyone from beginners to advanced yoga practitioners can usually do upward plank pose. Upward plank pose offers several physical benefits. This pose strengthens the wrists, arms and legs. The pose stretches the muscles of the shoulders, chest, and legs. In addition to the physical benefits, this pose helps with fatigue and increases energy. To move into upward plank pose, begin by moving … Continue reading →

There are several different types of yoga poses and each has its own unique benefits. As yoga is found in more gyms, there is a tendency to skip or rush through the relaxation portion of the practice in favor of more time spent attempting to sculpt the body. This is a mistake because relaxation poses offer important benefits. Relaxation poses offer physical, emotional and spiritual benefits. The best known relaxation pose is savasana, or corpse pose. This is the pose that is done at the end of most yoga classes. You lie on your back on the mat with your … Continue reading →

Eight angle pose (Astavakrasana in Sanskrit) is an intermediate to advanced level arm balance pose. Mastering this asana requires balance and strength in the arms, wrists and abdomen. Using this pose will strengthen the arms and abdominal muscles. To move into eight angle pose, begin by standing on your mat in mountain pose. From mountain pose, separate your feet a bit. Inhale and on the exhalation breath, begin to fold into standing forward fold. Place your hands to the outside of each foot and press the hands firmly down into the mat. From standing forward fold, bend the knees slightly … Continue reading →

Shoulderstand (Salamba Sarvangasana in Sanskrit) is an advanced asana. Shoulder stand is an inversion that requires balance and strength in the arms, back and neck. There are modifications and variations of this asana that can be used to help you master this pose. Shoulder stand stretches the shoulders and neck and offers a variety of benefits. This asana helps to stimulate the thyroid, aids digestion, and offers benefits for asthma, menopause symptoms and insomnia. There are emotional benefits to this asana, including relieving mild depression, anxiety and stress relief. To move into shoulder stand, begin by moving into plow pose. … Continue reading →

Cow face pose (Gomukhasana in Sanskrit) is a seated pose that opens the hips and relaxes the mind and body. There are several benefits of cow face pose. The pose stretches the hips, shoulders, thighs, chest, ankles and triceps. If you have pain in the knees as a result of running, this pose can help relieve pain from the knees and lower back. To move into cow face pose, begin seated on your mat with your legs straight out in front of you. Bend the right knee and move the leg so that the heel of the foot is slightly … Continue reading →

There are many different types of asanas in yoga and each has its own unique benefits. Seated poses offer a wide range of benefits, and the physical and emotional benefits vary depending on the specific pose. The seated asanas include a broad range of poses. Some commonly used seated poses in yoga classes and yoga DVDs include boat pose, seated twists, bound angle pose, cow face, flowering lotus, half lotus, hero, seated forward bend, revolved head to knee and more. Seated poses benefit the spine in several ways. In seated yoga poses, the spine is kept straight, which helps to … Continue reading →

Half frog pose (Ardha Bhekasana in Sanskrit) is an intermediate level pose that stretches the entire front and back of the body, while strengthening muscles and joints throughout the body. This pose can be adapted for the level of ability of the individual student. Half frog pose stretches many areas of the body at once and offers several significant benefits. This pose is a backbend, but also stretches the hips and the front of the body, including the chest, abdomen, thighs, hips and back. This pose improves stretch in the back and chest and helps posture. To move into half … Continue reading →