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Health Benefits of Virabhadrasana

Health Benefits of Virabhadrasana It is basically particularly compelling asana, full of emblematic and vigorous physical power. The entire Virabhadrasana is performed in three stages - Virabhadrasana I, Virabhadrasana II and Virabhadrasana III. The entire asana is meant to increase the strength, courage, endurance and confidence of the performer. * Virabhadrasana brings flexibility to the entire body. * It helps in strengthening the lower torso and stimulates abdominal organs. * It also teaches your body balancing and coordination of body parts. * It also improves circulation and respiration process in the body. * Virabhadrasana is also good for improving concentration. * It also improves posture and energizes the entire body. * It is beneficial in carpal tunnel syndrome, flat feet, infertility, osteoporosis, and sciatica. * Virabhadrasana is known to increase stamina.

Virabhadrasana Yoga Poses

Virabhadrasana Yoga Poses Virabhadrasana is the Sanskrit name for Warrior Pose. These beautiful but vigorous poses are named after the great hero warrior Virabhadra from Hindu mythology. * Warrior Pose I - the front knee is bent, back leg straight, arms extended overhead, and the chest is turned in the same direction as the bent knee. * Warrior Pose II - the front knee is bent, back leg straight, arms extended out to the sides in line with the legs, as shown in this photo. * Warrior Pose III - balancing on one straight leg, with the trunk and arms extending horizontally forward and the lifted leg extending back. * Stand straight and balance your body weight on both your legs properly. * Now, give mountain pose to both your feet together and hands at the side. * Try keep your feet your feet 4 feet apart. Balance your body properly * Now turn your right foot about 45 degrees to the left. Hold on this position. * Then try to rotate your left foot 90 degrees to the left, so that it is positioned directly to the side. * Now try to bend your left knee until your thigh becomes parallel to the ground * Make sure you keep your knee either behind or directly over the ankle. Hold and balance yourself at this posture. * Now gradually raise your arms over your head * After you have both your hands straight upwards, gradually pull down your left arm and bring it parallel to the ears and pointing ahead. * Make sure while your left hand is pointing forward, your right hand takes a posture aiming back. * Now develop your focus on a particular point in front of you and breathe gradually. * Take approximately 5 deep breaths at this position. * Gradually bring your hands and legs to the normal position. * Repeat few times.

The Health Benefits of Uttanasana

The Health Benefits of Uttanasana It is part of the Surya Namaskar series, and often used as part of a Vinyasa transition between yoga poses and benefits. * Uttanasana helps provide a complete stretching exercise to the entire back side of your body. * It has been observed that this asana helps rejuvenate the spinal nerves of a person and also tones the kidneys, liver, and spleen. * Those suffering from depression would find Uttanasana to be quite helpful, as it helps make the mind peaceful and calm. * Practicing this asana helps improve the flexibility of various body parts, including the spine, hips, sciatic nerves, tendons and ligaments of legs. * By soothing the brain cells, Uttanasana helps revitalize and invigorate the nervous system. * This asana has proved to be beneficial for people suffering from anxiety. It also improves eyesight and hearing. * Uttanasana improves blood circulation in the legs and also increases the suppleness of the hamstrings. * This asana provides nourishment to the facial skin, scalp, and even the hair roots.

Uttanasana Yoga Pose

Uttanasana Yoga Pose Sanskrit, “ut” means intense, “tan” means to stretch or extend and “asana” means pose. In English, we call this pose the Standing Forward Bend. But in any language, this incredibly beneficial posture is both therapeutic and revitalizing. * First of all, you need to stand in the Tadasana posture (mountain pose). * Now, start inhaling and raise your arms, taking them over your head. * As you exhale, start bending your hips. * Bring your arms forward and then take them down, along with the torso, so they are touching the floor. * Now, take your hands behind your legs and join them together. * Remain in the position for 7-8 breaths. * Now, bring your hands in the front and start twisting your torso upwards, pulling yourself. * Keep your head hanging down till you are completely straight. * Repeat the procedure 4-5 times.

Triangle Pose Benefits

Triangle Pose Benefits trikonasana benefits, benefits of triangle pose yoga, revolved triangle pose benefits: Triangle pose works the entire body intensely. Strengthens the legs, the abdominal muscles, hips and muscles of the side torso.The Triangle pose or Trikonasana is admired for its several benefits. * Relieves backache, especially during pregnancy * Strengthens your legs, feet and ankles * Opens your chest and shoulders * Stretches your hips, groins, hamstrings, calves and spine * Therapeutic for stress, anxiety, infertility, flat feet, neck pain, osteoporosis, sciatica and symptoms of menopause * Strengthens your back, neck and abdominals * Stimulates your abdominal organs, aiding in digestion.

How to Do a Yoga Triangle Pose

How to Do a Yoga Triangle Pose A yoga triangle pose stretches your legs and spine. These beginner instructions show you how to do this standing yoga posture correctly.Trikonasana, or the triangle pose, is the final posture in the sequence of 12 basic asanas of hatha yoga. The main benefits of this standing posture are to stretch the sides of the body and give a lateral movement to the spine. * Stand straight on a flat and firm ground. * Stretch your legs outwards, maintaining a distance of 2½ feet. * Now, move your left foot outwards, at an angel of about 90 degrees. * Bring the right foot inwards, at an angel of about 45 degrees. * Start inhaling and raise your arms till the time they are parallel to the ground. * Now, as your start exhaling, turn your head towards the left. * Focus your gaze down your left arm, towards the stretched out fingers and ensure that your left knee is in alignment with the left ankle. * Take a deep breath and start stretching your body towards the left side, lowering the left hip and raising the right one, as far as you feel comfortable. * Now, spin around your arms. You need to let your left hand go down, coming to rest on the floor, along with left foot. As for the right hand, it should be pointing straight up. * Turn around in a way that your gaze focuses on the right hand. * Stay in the position for 1-2 minutes, while taking deep breaths. * Exhale once more and slowly start lowering your arms. * Bring your hands to rest on your hips. * Now, turning on your heels, bring your feet in front, once again. * Repeat the asana with the right leg.

The Health Benefits of Tadasana

The Health Benefits of Tadasana The pose is said to have several benefits for health and general well-being. Tadasana encourages good posture and proper alignment of the physical frame. * Health Benefits of Tadasana : The most important and the most basic benefit of Tadasana is that it helps improve the posture of the body. * Health Benefits of Tadasana : If it is the flexibility of ankles, knees or hip joints that you want, then this asana will serve your needs perfectly. * Health Benefits of Tadasana : Tadasana has been know to helps strengthen the oblique muscles of the person, preventing hernia in the process. * Health Benefits of Tadasana : Practicing the asana on a regular basis will help impart suppleness to your spine. * Health Benefits of Tadasana : Tadasana not only helps improve your balance, but is also good for those who want to increase their height. * Health Benefits of Tadasana : In case you are suffering from visceroptosis or pain in the backbone, this asana will prove to be beneficial. * Health Benefits of Tadasana : Tadasana helps improve the respiration and digestion of a person, along with promoting proper elimination of waste. * Health Benefits of Tadasana : This asana helps a person gain proper control over his muscular movement. * Health Benefits of Tadasana : Indulging in Tadasana, on a regular basis, strengthens the entire nervous system of the body.

Tadasana Yoga Posture

Tadasana Yoga Posture Tadasana Yoga Pose, Tadasana Yoga Asana Postures, Yoga Mountain Pose: The tadasana yoga pose is also known as mountain pose and is the pose from which all other poses are a basic yoga posture, Tadasana can also be used as the starting point for other asanas that are performed in a standing position. * Stand on a firm ground, with your legs and feet joined together. * Keep your hands at your sides and look in the front. * Now, balancing yourself on the heels, raise your toes and hold it for 5-10 seconds. * Bring the toes back on the ground and move forward your pubic bone, just a bit. * Lift your chest up and out, in moderation. * Next, you need to raise up your head. * Lift the base of your skull, towards the ceiling, lengthening your neck in the process. * Putting pressure on your toes, lift your legs up, first the calves and then your thighs. * Keeping your breath steady, remain in the position for 1-2 minutes. * As you inhale, feel the breath is coming up through the floor and going into your legs, followed by stomach and up to the head. * While exhaling, feel your breath going down, right from the head to the stomach and into your feet. * Now, come back to the original position slowly and repeat the process. * In the next repetition, along with your legs, raise up your arms as well, stretching them and taking them over your head. * Again repeat the inhaling and exhaling exercise and in the latter one, put down your arms as well.

Sukhasana Yoga Benefits

Sukhasana Yoga Benefits This yoga pose is frequently used in meditation and breathing practice. It helps you to relax and calm body and mind.The asana helps makes the waist and lower region of a person quite flexible. * The asana has been found to be very beneficial for strengthening the lumbar region of the body. * Sukhasana is one of the simplest postures in yoga and can be undertaken by almost anyone, with hardly a few exceptions. * In case you are stressed out mentally, either from too much work or too monotonous work, practicing Sukhasana will provide you with mental peace and calm. * Sukhasana is believed to aid tuneful, but controlled stimulation of the erotic processes as well as the creative imagination of a person. * Indulging in the asana, after you have undergone a stressful and tiring day, will help you get over the exhaustion and make you feel refreshed. * Practicing Sukhasana will help you achieve a state of composure and harmony, by eliminating all the unnecessary anxiety. * Throughout the posture, the backbone remains in the ideal position, making the asana beneficial for those who are suffering from back pain.

Sukhasana Yoga Pose

Sukhasana Yoga Pose This is a classic meditative pose which helps straighten the spine. Learn how to do it in this section. Sukhasana can provide the best start to yoga beginners and can also be practiced by those who cannot do siddhasana, padmasana and other difficult postures. You can also use it to attain relaxation between two complex postures. * Sit down on a flat and smooth surface, preferably the ground. * Stretch both the legs in front of you. * Keep your hands on the side, making sure to have the palms resting on the ground. Fingers should be together and point forward. * First fold the left leg slightly, at the knee, followed by the right leg. * Now, join the soles of the both the feet and hold the legs at ankle by the hands. * Moving slowly, start bringing the legs towards yourself. Continue doing so till the time the legs reach under the perineum. * At this point of time, your knees should remain on the ground, while your body should be erect and your gaze directly in the front. * Keep your hands on your knees, in gyana mudra (you have to hold the index finger against tip of thumb, having the other three fingers straight). * Hold the position for 4-5 minutes. * Now, gradually loosen your legs and come back to the original position.

How to Perform Surya Namaskar

How to Perform Surya Namaskar Surya Namaskar is one of the ancient and powerful exercises to keep the body fit and flexible. Since the moves of this exercise offer a complete body workout, it is beneficial in toning the muscles and stimulates body metabolism. Each pose or posture is in essence offering salutation to the Sun God – Surya, also known as the keeper of good health. This has been adapted into our modern way of life as a natural way to derive the many benefits of this exercise. One of the most popular approaches is practicing Surya Namaskar for weight loss. * Do warm up stretches before you start the series of asanas in Surya Namaskar. This prepares the body for the upcoming postures. * Perform each pose with awareness. Since various postures in Surya Namaskar activates a number of muscles and releases energy, it is important to do sun salutations with awareness. * Do each pose gracefully and slowly. It is essential that you breathe normally when doing each posture. The body and the breath must be in harmony. * Yoga experts opine that twelve rounds (six sets) of Surya Namaskar is sufficient to keep a body fit and flexible. You can do up to a hundred and eight rounds (nine sets) or more for weight loss. Get comfortable with a smaller number of rounds before you can start practicing more sets. * Relaxation is also important aspect of Surya Namaskar. Do not skip this step since Surya Namaskar is not complete without shavasana. Few people do not realize the importance and skip this step due to lack of time. * Shavasana lets the body to recuperate and gives you energy to face the rest of the day. You must spend at least five minutes in this pose before you can resume other activities. * The best time for you to perform Surya Namaskar is the time of the dawn or the dusk. Your stomach must be empty for at least four to five hours before you start the routine. * Each round of Surya Namaskar burns about ten calories. You can easily aim burning about four hundred and fifty calories for a forty-five round routine. * Start practicing this routine at least five times a week. Gradually aim for all the days of the week for faster weight loss. * This routine is best done listening or chanting the Surya Namaskar Mantra, which makes you do the postures slowly and gracefully. Fast music is a strict no-no.

Yoga Quote of the Day

Yoga Quote of the Day Spirituality is very rich food that cannot be digested by everyone. In order to be successful we need discipline. First we have to become free from those negative powers that are within our phenomena: Kama, Krodha, Madha, Lobha, Moha and Ahamkara: passion, anger, selfishness, greed, attachment and ego. If you have not purified these qualities the door is closed for you, no matter how long you have practised! It is a hard work to change one’s inner feelings and qualities. Paramhans Sri Swami Maheshwarananda

Yoga Quote of the Day

Yoga Quote of the Day Whatever you think and whatever you do, everything will come back to you. Whatever thoughts, all words, deeds you did, all these will bring you back to yourself. If you are unable to think positively, at least do not think negatively. It is very important. If you are unable to speak good, at least do not speak bad. Paramhans Sri Swami Maheshwarananda

Health Benefits Of Cobra Yoga

Health Benefits Of Cobra Yoga Health Benefits Cobra Pose, Hot Yoga Health Benefits, Cobra Yoga Health Benefits: Read on to get complete information on the technique to do cobra yoga, its health benefits and the people who should not attempt to do this asana. * A natural remedy for amenorrhoea, dysmenorrhoea, leucorrhoea and various other utero ovarine troubles * Effective for women in toning up their ovaries and uterus * Effective in curing constipation * Stimulates the endocrine system * Gives good appetite * Strengthens and increases the flexibility of spine * Tones up superficial muscles of the back * Relieves muscular tensions * Relieves pain in the back * Strengthens the abdominal muscles * Tones up the abdominal viscera

How To Do Cobra Yoga Pose

How To Do Cobra Yoga Pose On the completion of the asana, the person doing it appears like a hooded cobra, with a raised trunk, neck and head. Read on to get complete information on the technique to do Bhujangasana, its health benefits and the people who should not attempt to do this asana. * How To Do Cobra Yoga Pose : To start the pose, lie down on your stomach, on a flat surface, say, floor. Make sure you relax all the muscles completely. Rest your forehead on the floor. * How To Do Cobra Yoga Pose : Now, put your legs together and position your arms below the corresponding sides of your shoulder, close to your body. The hands should be placed beside your chest. * How To Do Cobra Yoga Pose : Now, start inhaling slowly. Keep inhaling and then raise your upper body (trunk), including your chest and head, to the maximum extent possible. Raise your trunk slowly, without creating any jerk. Do this just as a cobra raises its hood. * How To Do Cobra Yoga Pose : By doing the above step, you will gradually feel the bending of the vertebrae one by one and feel the pressure traveling downwards from the cervical, dorsal and lumbar regions and lastly to the sacral regions. * How To Do Cobra Yoga Pose : While doing this, your head and chest should be positioned upwards. * How To Do Cobra Yoga Pose : In order to attain the full form of Bhujangasana, known as Poorna Bhujangasana, raise your legs, bent at the knees, backwards and try to touch the toes to the back of your head. * How To Do Cobra Yoga Pose : In order to release the posture, get back to the original position, by exhaling slowly and bringing down your trunk smoothly down to the floor. * How To Do Cobra Yoga Pose : You may repeat the exercise for five times. For the beginners, taking the help of their arms to raise the upper body is beneficial.

Benefits Of Ardha Sarvangasana

Benefits Of Ardha Sarvangasana The exercise proves to be beneficial in strengthening the abdomen. It also helps in proper thyroid functioning. Ardha Sarvangasana can be done two times a day - once in the morning and then in the evening. In the following lines, we have mentioned the exact steps needed for performing Ardha Sarvangasana. * Helps in proper thyroid functioning * Strengthening of abdomen * Stretches upper back * Increases blood circulation * Encourages relaxation * Accentuates the flow of blood and energy to the brain * Stimulates mental functions * Enhances memory and concentration * Relieve from some headaches * Cures dyspepsia, constipation, appendicitis, other gastro-intestinal disorders and varicose-veins * Supplies large quantity of blood to the spinal roots of the nerves * Stops loss of hair or premature greying * Enhances facial complexion * Helps alleviate rheumatism * Cures malfunctioning of the sexual organs * Sublimes emotions of depression and neurasthenia * Treats problems of insomnia  

How To Do Ardha Sarvangasana

How To Do Ardha Sarvangasana A unique pose, Ardha Sarvangasana ensures rejuvenation of the whole system. It is also referred to as The Shoulder Stand, Candle Posture and Pan Body Posture. * The first step would be to lie flat on the back. Then, with the help of your hands, lift your legs up into air. * The position of the hands should be such that it should be on the lower back. Make sure that your elbows and lower arms rest on the ground. * The weight of your body should be on your shoulders and from mid to upper back, but not on the neck. * Once you have attained the desired posture, hold at the posture and breath deeply for 5 to 10 minutes. Increase the duration of holding the posture, gradually, over time. * At the time of coming down, slowly lower your legs. In the process, do not forget to keep them straight. This would mean a little workout for your abdominal muscles as well. * Make sure that in the process of doing the asan you face no jerks. * For the beginners, it is not possible to attain the correct posture, as the abdominal muscles are not strong enough. In that case, the best bet would be to allow the legs to come forward towards the face.To attain best results, performing Matsyasan immediately after it.

Pregnancy Exercise Tips

Pregnancy Exercise Tips According to the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1985, moderate exercise, during pregnancy, may reduce the chance of having a miscarriage or a premature baby. Exercise strengthens the pelvic and abdominal muscles which help make the birth easier. * Regular exercise during pregnancy is essential. Walking is the best exercise in that body condition. Brisk and strenuous exercise should be avoided when tired, take a casual stroll. * While sitting on a chair keep your knees wide apart and cross your legs at the ankles and not at the knees. Join an exercise class for pregnant women if available nearby. * A woman should not work full time after the 30th week of pregnancy. During the last three months the heart is working 33% harder than normal. It needs some relief. Avoid high heeled shoes in pregnancy because they shift the body weight forward, thus placing additional strain on the spine and back. * Avoid prolonged sitting. Get up slowly after lying down. During pregnancy you need 9 to 10 hours of sleep. Try to lie on your left side with your knees bent inwards Mid-day rest is the answer to fatigue in early pregnancy. Do not wear undergarments tight about the waist. Link has been established between fetal anomalies, childhood malignancies and X-Ray examination during early pregnancy. X-ray examination must therefore be avoided. * Exposure to smoking, active or passive, must also be avoided. Such an exposure could lead to even a still birth. Drinking alcohol and using narcotic drugs has similar consequences and must be shunned. Do not take any medicines during pregnancy unless prescribed by a doctor who is aware of your pregnancy position. * During pregnancy, the presence of breast milk is no cause for alarm. Wash away any dried milk with warm water so that your nipples do not become itchy, irritated or sore. If the gain in weight is less than 10 kgs or inside of your eyelids is pale or there is unusual swelling of legs, arms or face, medical advice may be sought immediately. * There are occasions when faintness comes while lying on your back. It only means that the uterus has fallen against the main blood vessels at the front of your spine and has interfered with enough circulation to those vessels. The drop in circulation makes you faint. Solution is very simple. Lie on your side and not on your back. The weight of the uterus shifts and normal circulation is restored.

Adho Mukha Svanasana Pose

Adho Mukha Svanasana Pose Adho Mukha Svanasana helps in building power, flexibility and alertness. This is the first pose which some people learn as they begin to do yoga. While executing different styles of yoga, this posture is repeated. It is many times done during a yoga class as it provides a transition between poses, particularly in Surya Namaskar and vinyIasa flow yoga. Make sure that before starting this asana you should know the exact posture required for this asana. * Lie on the floor on your abdomen. * Raise your body to position the body on all fours, palms, knees and toes touching the floor. * Keep your knees apart and right beneath the hips and the palms a bit ahead of the shoulders. * Spread out your fingers. * Exhale and raise your knees off the ground. * Keep your knees slightly bent and your heels off the ground. * Raise your body up further, lengthening your tail bone. * Lift your buttocks further up so they face towards the ceiling. * Lengthen your thighs and stretch the heels so that they touch the ground. * Keep your knees straight but still apart. * Roll the upper thighs inward slightly and roll the heels outward slightly. * Press your palms on the floor and straighten your arms from the wrists to the tops of the shoulders. * Open up your shoulders and move them towards the tailbone. * Keep your head in between the two arms. * Hold the pose for about a minute. Gradually raise it to three minutes. * Return to initial position in reverse order

Eight Limbs of Yoga

Eight Limbs of Yoga The practice of yoga is both an art and science, which creates unification of the body and mind with the spirit.Each part ultimately brings completeness to the individual. They tend to find their connectivity to the divine. Being a different individual, a person can emphasize one branch and then move on to another according to their understanding. * Asanas It is the practice of physical postures and is the most commonly known aspect of yoga. The practice of moving the body into postures helps in improving health, strength, balance and flexibility. On a deeper level, the practice of asana, which means staying or abiding in Sanskrit, is used as a means to calm the mind and move into the inner essence of being. * Yama It is known as Moral observances for interactions with others. Broken down into five wise characteristics, they tell us about our fundamental nature that of being compassionate, generous, honest and peaceful. It teaches the directives of Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (celibacy) and Aparigraha (non-covetousness) * Dharana Immovable concentration of the mind is the underlying principle of Dharana. The essential idea is to hold the concentration or focus of attention in one direction. The mind needs to be stilled in order to achieve this state of complete absorption. * Niyama It is known as Moral observances for interactions with yourself. The word itself means rules that are prescribed for personal observance. The niyamas are far more than an attitude, and are more intimate and personal. The directive include Shaucha (internal and external purity), Santosha (contentment), Tapas (austerity), Svadhyaya (study of religious books and repetitions of Mantras) and Ishvarapranidhana (self-surrender to God, and His worship). * Pranayama It controls the energy, in order to restore and maintain health and to promote evolution. Pranayama is the measuring, control, and directing of the breath. It further provides perfect relaxation and balance of body activities are realized. * Pratyahara In yoga, the term pratyahara implies withdrawal of the senses from attachment to external objects. It is most commonly known for sensory inhibition. * Dhyana Dhyana focuses on Meditation. It means worship, or profound and abstract religious meditation that involves concentration upon a point of focus with the intention of knowing the truth about it. The concept holds that when one focuses their mind in concentration on an object the mind is changed into the shape of the object. * Samadhi It is the final step in the eight-fold path of Yoga. It means pleasurable fascination of one's individual consciousness in the essence of God. Samadhi means to bring together to merge. In this state, the body and senses are at rest, but the faculty of mind and reason are alert.