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Yoga Asanas and Health


All have their pet Yoga asanas, a rich treasury of sparkling gems. Then again all of us have one that glitters more brightly than the others. For most traditionalists the strongest contender is the serene Lotus pose. For some, it's the beautiful, symmetrical and graceful Ardha-Matsyendrasana, in English called the Spinal Twist. This un-poetic English translation gives the lie to a Yogic poem of calculated movement. In this pose you see the boundless mystery of Yoga itself, as well as its significance in everyday life.

 

As the Yogis say, a person is only as old his spine – obviously, there are a lot of Yoga poses designed to keep the spine healthy and flexible. Most involve forward and backward bends. On the other hand, the Spinal Twist has an effect felt on the dorso-lumbar, as well as lumbar region – a lateral twist that not just keeps your spine robust but also gives a health-giving massage to your kidneys and abdominal organs.

Asanas and Exercises for health conditions

 

Condition / Purpose

Practice

 


 


To retard the Ageing process

Special importance to all inverted poses such as Viparita Karani, Shoulderstand and Headstand,
All swinging and downward exercises with slow Movements.

All stretching exercises and poses.
All breathing exercises with Uddiyana Bandha, Nauli and Yoga-mudra

Loads of Shavasana.

For swollen Ankles

All inverted poses such as Viparita Karani; Shoulderstand and Headstand

Vajroli mudra.

To firm up the Arms

All arm exercises, stretching exercises and poses

Cow face pose.

Arthritis

All possible stretching exercises and asanas.

Kapalabhatti, Anuloma Viloma and Suryabhedana

Asthma

Lots of Dirga Pranayama.
Frog pose, Fish pose and loads of Shavasana.

Backache resulting from displaced organs

All inverted poses such as Viparita Karani; Shoulderstand and Headstand

Ashwini mudra.

Backache resulting from weak muscles

All back exercises

Plough pose, Cobra pose

Backache resulting from menstruation

Spinal Twist; Fish pose, Locust pose, Camel pose, Headstand.
Also, learn to breathe away your pain and channel prana to your spine.

To firm up the Bust

Bust exercises, Cobra pose, Camel pose

To prevent double Chin, and firm it up

Camel pose, Lion pose Supine pelvic twist, Face exercises;

Circulatory problems

All inverted poses such as Viparita Karani, Shoulderstand and Headstand, Triangle Pose.
All breathing exercises.

Coughs and Colds

Headstand, Shoulderstand, Triangular Pose All breathing exercises, particularly Kapalabhatti and Bhastrika

To improve Concentration

Headstand, Shoulderstand, Lotus Pose, Yoga-mudra.

Balancing & concentration poses such as Tree pose, Crow pose, Peacock pose

Lack of Confidence

All stretching exercises and poses, Headstand, Cobra pose, Lotus Pose, Spinal Twist, Balancing & concentration poses such as Tree pose, Crow pose, Peacock pose

Vajroli mudra; Angular Pose; Mental exercises.

Constipation

All Inverted Poses such as Viparita Karani, Shoulderstand and Headstand, Stranding and Seated Head-to-knee pose, Plough pose, Fish pose, Cobra pose, Locust pose, Shavasana; Yoga-mudra; Ashwini mudra; Vajroli-mudra;

Uddiyana; Nauli;

Depression

Loads of Shavasana, Headstand, all Inverted Poses such as Viparita Karani, Shoulderstand and Headstand; Cobra pose, Locust pose, Spinal Twist

Vajroli-mudra

Breathing exercises

Meditation

Also diet control.

Lack of Energy

Headstand, Shoulderstand, Shavasana; Vajroli-mudra

All breathing exercises

Sagging Facial muscles

All Inverted Poses such as Viparita Karani, Shoulderstand and Headstand,

Cow face pose, Yoga-mudra

Facial exercises.

Swollen Feet

All Inverted Poses such as Viparita Karani, Shoulderstand and Headstand,

Leg and foot exercises.

Fear

Headstand, Shoulderstand; Hero pose, Lotus pose; Spinal Twist; Cobra pose; Vajroli-mudra

Meditation

Flatulence

All Inverted Poses such as Viparita Karani, Shoulderstand and Headstand,

Wind relieving pose; Standing and Seated head to knee pose, Breathing exercises.

General Frustration

Shavasana; Lotus pose;

Breathing exercises.

Meditation

Sexual Frustration

All Inverted Poses such as Viparita Karani, Shoulderstand and Headstand, Hero pose

Breathing exercises.

Hemorrhoids

All Inverted Poses such as Viparita Karani, Shoulderstand and Headstand,

Ashwini-mudra

Walking on buttocks

Massage.

Loss of Hearing,

All Inverted Poses such as Viparita Karani, Shoulderstand and Headstand, All forward bending exercises

Yoga-mudra.

Heart Conditions

Lots of Shavasana, Child pose, Lotus Pose; Fish Pose; Frog pose

Breathing exercises, especially Dirga Pranayama, Anuloma-Viloma and Brahmari

Meditation

Hump in the neck & upper back

Neck exercises.
All Inverted Poses such as Viparita Karani, Shoulderstand and Headstand, Camel pose,

Hypertension

Loads of Shavasana, Frog Pose; Cross-legged Poses; Fish Pose; Thunderbolt Pose;

Breathing exercises, especially Dirga Pranayama, Anuloma-Viloma and Brahmari

Mental exercises.

Impotence

All Inverted Poses such as Viparita Karani, Shoulderstand and Headstand, Shavasana; Ashwini-mudra; Vajroli-mudra; Breathing cycles;

Breathing exercises,

Indigestion

Forward bending and stretching.

Lots of Shavasana; Wind relieving pose; Standing and Seated head-to-knee pose; Breathing exercises, especially Dirga Pranayama, Anuloma-Viloma and Brahmari

Vajroli mudra; Yoga-mudra;

Uddiyana; Nauli

Insomnia

Spinal massage (rocking in Wind relieving pose); Triangular Pose; Lots and lots of Shavasana; Plough pose, Locust pose, Standing and Seated head-to-knee pose; Breathing exercises, especially Dirga Pranayama, Anuloma-Viloma and Brahmari.

Stiffness of Joints

All forward and backward bending and stretching exercises;

Lotus Pose; cycle; Spinal Twist; Archer pose; Camel pose; Eagle pose; Fish pose

For strong and firm Legs

All forward and backward bending and stretching exercises;

Eagle pose; Triangle pose; Lotus pose; Standing and Seated head-to-knee pose;

Failing Memory

Headstand; Child pose

All Inverted Poses such as Viparita Karani, Shoulderstand and Headstand,

Yoga-mudra

Meditation

Menopause

Shavasana;

Breathing exercises; Cobra pose; Spinal Twist; Standing and Seated head-to-knee pose;

Stomach contractions; Ashwini mudra; Shoulderstand; Mental exercises.

Menstrual problems

Shoulderstand; Plough; Fish; Locust; Uddiyana Bandha; Nauli

Ashwini-mudra; Cobra pose; Standing and Seated head-to-knee pose; Shavasana.

Migraine

Headstand; Loads of Shavasana;

Breathing exercises.

To firm up the Neck

Neck exercises;

Camel pose

Prolapse of pelvic organs

Headstand; All Inverted Poses such as Viparita Karani, Shoulderstand and Headstand, Ashwini-mudra; Uddiyana Bandha; Nauli (with doctor's approval).

Enlarged Prostate

Ashwini-mudra;

Archer pose

Loss of Strength

Stretching exercises.

Rheumatism

Spinal Twist; Cobra pose; Locust pose

Sciatica

Spinal Twist.

Sexual Debility

Headstand; All Inverted Poses such as Viparita Karani, Shoulderstand and Headstand, Plough pose; Fish pose; Eagle pose; Frog Pose; Spinal Twist;

Vajroli-mudra; Ashwini-mudra;

Uddiyana. Bandha.

Care of Sight,

Eye exercises;

All Inverted Poses such as Viparita Karani, Shoulderstand and Headstand, All forward and backward bending and stretching exercises;

Yoga-mudra;

Sinusitis

Headstand;

Breathing exercises, particularly Bhastrika

For firm and slim Stomach

Camel pose; Locust pose; All forward and backward bending and stretching exercises;

Archer pose; Spinal Twist;

Vajroli-mudra;

Uddiyana Bandha and Nauli;

Stress and Tension

Shavasana; Shoulderstand; Balancing & concentration poses such as Tree pose, Crow pose, Peacock pose triangle pose; Cross-legged Poses; Diamond Pose; Frog pose

Breathing exercises, especially Dirga Pranayama, Anuloma-Viloma and Brahmari

Meditation

Teeth

Viparita Karani, Shoulderstand and Headstand,

Face and neck exercises.

For firm Thighs

All inverted poses such as Viparita Karani, Shoulderstand and Headstand,

Cobra pose; Locust pose; Lotus pose Standing and Seated head-to-knee;

Supine pelvic twists

Weakness of the Throat

Lion pose; Shoulderstand.

Breathing exercises;

Thyroid deficiency

Shoulderstand; Cobra pose with chin pressed in the throat;

Breathing exercises, especially Dirga Pranayama, Anuloma-Viloma and Brahmari

Meditation

Abdominal Ulcers

Shavasana; Fish pose; Frog pose; Diamond pose;

Breathing exercises, especially Dirga Pranayama, Anuloma-Viloma and Brahmari

Varicose Veins

All inverted poses such as Viparita Karani, Shoulderstand and Headstand,

For slim Waistline

Sideward swings; Standing and supine spinal Twists; Cobra pose; Forward bending and stretching exercises

For Weight loss

All inverted poses such as Viparita Karani, Shoulderstand and Headstand, Sideward swings; Standing and supine spinal Twists; Forward bending and stretching exercises

Yoga Diet.

For Weight gain

All inverted poses such as Viparita Karani, Shoulderstand and Headstand, Loads of Shavasana;

Breathing exercises, especially Dirga Pranayama, Anuloma-Viloma and Brahmari

Yoga Diet with more Proteins, Fats, Carbohydrates and Starch

 

Submitted on July 16, 2010
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Yoga Asanas and Health