Yoga is well-known to improve health, relieve stress, improve coordination, balance and overall fitness, both mental and physical. Yoga, if you know nothing about it, can be intimidating. You have visions of turning yourself into a human pretzel - you who has not done anything remotely pretzel-like since you were five years old! Put your mind at rest. In yoga for beginners there is no need for you to do any pose beyond your ability. Here are a few beginner's poses to get you started.
The first pose is called Easy Yoga Pose. You often see people meditating in this position. To begin, sit on your bottom with your legs crossed in front of you (knees bent). Put one foot towards your groin and the other on the floor. Sit up nice and tall, stretching your spine. Relax your shoulders. This should feel quite comfortable.
To do the Tree Pose, start from a standing position. Your hands should be in a prayer pose, fingertips pointing up, at chest level. Hips should be parallel to the floor as much as possible. Slowly bring your right foot up the inside of your left leg until it rests on your inner left thigh (or as high as you can get it without pain). Remain balancing for a time, then repeat with your other leg and foot. Hold on to the wall or a chair if you need extra support.
Downward-Facing Dog, also known as adho mukha svanasana is a great whole-body stretch. To do this pose, get down on your hands and knees. Your hands should be straight below your shoulders and your hips directly over your knees. Your back should be straight. Slowly bring your hands as far back as you can. Your body will look like the top part of a triangle with the floor as the base of the triangle. Lower your shoulders so they are not scrunched up towards your ears. Then, drop your head and just let it hang. Only go as far as you can with this pose without experiencing pain. Finish the pose by coming back to the starting position.
Child's Pose is done from the Downward-Facing Dog Pose, spread your knees and then bring your stomach towards the ground. Stretch your arms out in front of you. Of, if that is uncomfortable, put your arms down alongside of your body with your fingers pointing at your toes. Stay in this position for as long as you like.
Cat/Cow Pose is another stretching pose. Get onto your hands and knees as if you were going to do the Downward-Facing Dog Pose. Your toes should be bent under and pointing towards your head. Shoulders should be relaxed. Drop your belly low towards the ground. It is not necessary to touch your belly to the ground. Keep your hands and knees aligned with your shoulders and hips. Next, arch your back towards the ceiling getting a good stretch. Come back to the beginning.
Garland Pose is started from the standing position. Spread your feet shoulder-width apart. Go into a squat, putting your elbows against the inside of your knees and your hands in prayer position. Your fingertips should point towards the ceiling. Using your elbows gently push the inside of your knees. Relax your shoulders and keep your spine straight. Stay in this pose for about five breaths.
That was not too bad, now was it? How do you feel? Undoubtedly you feel much more centered and relaxed than you did before we started the yoga poses. Yoga for beginners is really quite satisfying and makes you feel great. Keep up your practice and you will notice yourself getting more and more flexible and strong. Maybe there is a yoga class in your town you could join so you can keep adding to your repertoire of poses. - 32527
The first pose is called Easy Yoga Pose. You often see people meditating in this position. To begin, sit on your bottom with your legs crossed in front of you (knees bent). Put one foot towards your groin and the other on the floor. Sit up nice and tall, stretching your spine. Relax your shoulders. This should feel quite comfortable.
To do the Tree Pose, start from a standing position. Your hands should be in a prayer pose, fingertips pointing up, at chest level. Hips should be parallel to the floor as much as possible. Slowly bring your right foot up the inside of your left leg until it rests on your inner left thigh (or as high as you can get it without pain). Remain balancing for a time, then repeat with your other leg and foot. Hold on to the wall or a chair if you need extra support.
Downward-Facing Dog, also known as adho mukha svanasana is a great whole-body stretch. To do this pose, get down on your hands and knees. Your hands should be straight below your shoulders and your hips directly over your knees. Your back should be straight. Slowly bring your hands as far back as you can. Your body will look like the top part of a triangle with the floor as the base of the triangle. Lower your shoulders so they are not scrunched up towards your ears. Then, drop your head and just let it hang. Only go as far as you can with this pose without experiencing pain. Finish the pose by coming back to the starting position.
Child's Pose is done from the Downward-Facing Dog Pose, spread your knees and then bring your stomach towards the ground. Stretch your arms out in front of you. Of, if that is uncomfortable, put your arms down alongside of your body with your fingers pointing at your toes. Stay in this position for as long as you like.
Cat/Cow Pose is another stretching pose. Get onto your hands and knees as if you were going to do the Downward-Facing Dog Pose. Your toes should be bent under and pointing towards your head. Shoulders should be relaxed. Drop your belly low towards the ground. It is not necessary to touch your belly to the ground. Keep your hands and knees aligned with your shoulders and hips. Next, arch your back towards the ceiling getting a good stretch. Come back to the beginning.
Garland Pose is started from the standing position. Spread your feet shoulder-width apart. Go into a squat, putting your elbows against the inside of your knees and your hands in prayer position. Your fingertips should point towards the ceiling. Using your elbows gently push the inside of your knees. Relax your shoulders and keep your spine straight. Stay in this pose for about five breaths.
That was not too bad, now was it? How do you feel? Undoubtedly you feel much more centered and relaxed than you did before we started the yoga poses. Yoga for beginners is really quite satisfying and makes you feel great. Keep up your practice and you will notice yourself getting more and more flexible and strong. Maybe there is a yoga class in your town you could join so you can keep adding to your repertoire of poses. - 32527
About the Author:
In search of ways how to lose weight and how to lose belly fat. Yoga is well-known to boost health, relieve stress, boost coordination, balance and overall fitness, both mental and physical.
