Yoga Poses To Be Done At Home

Yoga is an exercise of the body and mind that has been practiced for centuries. This discipline has its origins in ancient India. The word ‘yoga’ literally means ‘union’; it refers to the union of the mind and body. Yoga is not only excellent as a form of exercise, but is also good for spiritual growth.

Yoga techniques include extended stretches knows (Asanas) and breathing exercises (Pranayama). Thus, yoga is a powerful combination of body movements, breath, and meditation.  Yoga therefore enables you to reach a state of harmony and healing, and has been proven to have therapeutic uses.

The most important thing is to make sure you are doing the breathing and physical exercises correctly otherwise it will not help your body and mind. For this purpose, you could attend a few yoga classes before beginning practice at home. If you feel any discomfort or pain, you should stop or move on to an easier pose. Beginners should aim to hold each pose for at least one minute.

Incorrect posture puts undue pressure on your muscles and distorts the alignment of your bones. To correct posture with yoga, you could begin with the simple ‘Tadasana’, which involves you standing straight and concentrating on your posture. This helps increase your awareness of your body, and you can find out yourself what you are doing wrong.

The main emphasis with yoga should be on poses that help to realign the curvature of the spine. ‘Ardha Matsyendrasana’ is a simple spinal twist that involves you sitting down with your legs stretched out and looking over your shoulder. This ‘asana’ gives your spine a lateral stretch and improves flexibility. ‘Vakrasana’ or the tree pose involves balancing your weight on one foot. This pose enhances the strength of your back and lengthens your spine. For postural alignment, ‘Matsayasana’, where you lie down on your back while arching it, helps the curvature of your spine. It is extremely effective against any sort of back pain. ‘Garudhasana’ or the eagle pose works your shoulder and lower back areas and helps ease muscle tension in those areas.

You could also try breathing exercises such as Ujjayi breathing which fills your entire stomach, rib cage and heart with pure air. This long breath makes your core muscles stronger and better able to support your back muscles thereby improving posture. Whatever yoga pose or breathing exercise you try, do not over-exert yourself. In yoga, unlike other forms of exercise, you are not expected to over strain your body.