Benefits of Yoga Postures

Erroneous lifestyle, unhealthy food habits, irregular sleep –whatsoever may be the reason for living an imbalanced life it leads to various health and mental problems. An individual faces hurdles at various steps in life, be it maintaining work-life balance, dealing with anxiety, insomnia, fighting the weight loss battle and what not. In order to live a peaceful and sound life, it is imperative to lead an existence full of correct practices. If you no longer wish to live a fallacious life, then consider practicing the art of yoga.

Yoga is a holistic art that confers endless physical and spiritual benefits to the practitioners. It makes an individual physically and mentally strong. It brings out oneness within the body of the human being. The science of yoga is concerned with breath and awareness. It awakens one’s spirit and brings a significant difference in the behavior, thoughts, and attitude of the practitioners. It makes them experience eternal bliss. To experience higher levels of tranquility, intuition, sensitivity, practice yoga asanas daily.

For all those who perceive that performing yoga poses is a mere physical workout, then let us correct you as this is not entirely true. A human brain is like a pendulum; swinging from past to future, sorrows to happiness. The practice of yoga postures helps to maintain this equilibrium.

A snippet from Patanjali Yoga Sutra “sthira sukham asanam” which means yoga asana is an effort of balance and ease. Yoga poses are meant to bring out the balance in our daily lives. It grants strength, flexibility and expands the wisdom of the practitioners.

To expand your awareness, try these yoga postures:

Standing Head to Toe (Hasta Padangusthasana): Begin in mountain pose with feet together and arms by the side. Shift your weight to the left leg. Slowly draw your right knee towards your chest. Loop your index and middle finger around the big toe of the right foot. Place your left hand on the left posterior. Exhale and extend your right leg forward as much as possible. Square both your hips in forward direction. Hold for 6-10 breaths and slowly release the pose.

Eagle Pose (Garudasana): Stand with a straight back on the floor. Bend your knees and balance your weight on the right foot. Cross your left thigh over the right one. Your left foot should be behind the right calf. Wrap your arms and hands with palms together. Gaze at the tips of the fingers. Hold the pose for smooth and even breaths.

Chair Pose ( Utkatasana): Begin in Tadasana with arms by your side. Inhale and extend your arms overhead. It should be perpendicular to the floor. Upon exhalation, bend your knees and adjust your thighs parallel to the floor. Shift your weight onto the heels. Hold the pose for 30-60 seconds.

Standing Forward Bend Pose (Uttanasana ): Stand on the yoga mat with an erect back. Breathe in, stretch your arms over the head alongside your ears. Exhale and bend forward from your waist. Place your hands on the back side of the legs. Do not strain your head and neck. Hold the pose for several breaths.

Standing Backward Bend Pose or (Hasta uttanasana): Stand with feet hip distance apart. Raise your hands over the head shoulder-width apart. Keep your gaze fixed at the fingers. Bend your knees and, slowly leading with your fingers, fall back on your hands. Arch your spine. Hold the pose for 3-5 breaths. Slowly release the pose.

Half Moon Pose or (Ardha Chakrasana ): Stand on the floor with feet-hip apart and weight evenly distributed between them. Make sure your spine is erect. Extend your left leg behind and stretch your arms to the side at shoulder-height. Turn your left foot slightly inwards. Shift your weight to the right foot to simultaneously raise the left leg off the floor. Extend the right arm towards the foot and left arm towards the ceiling. Hold the pose for few seconds.