Standing Cat Sequence
Level: Easy Benefits: Increases flexibility in the spine. Increases breathing capacity. Good for minor back aches. Cautions: Lower back pain How To Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. …
Yoga Exercise
Learn more about yoga asanas (postures), pranayama (breathing techniques), the effects they have on the body and mind and the many health benefits that can be experienced with regular practice.
Wide Angle Forward Bend
(Upavistha Konasana) Level: Easy/Moderate Benefits: Great for toning the thighs and increasing flexibility through the inner legs. Wonderful for menstrual and urinary problems. Cautions: Be careful not …
Tree Pose
(Vrikshasana) Level: Easy Benefits: Strengthens legs, increases focus, calms the nervous system. Cautions: Weak ankles, sciatica, knee or hip pain. How To Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. …
Seated Head to Knee Pose
(Janu Sirsasana) Level: Easy/Moderate Benefits: Deeply stretches the legs and spine, massages the internal organs. Cautions: Knee injuries, sciatica. How To Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Sit …
Reclining Hero Pose
(Supta Virasana) Level: Moderate Benefits: Stretches the front and back of body, improves digestion. Cautions: Knee pain, lower back pain, varicose veins, arthritis, sciatica. How To Fig. …
Lord Krishna Pose
(Natavarasana) Level: Easy Benefits: Stretches the outer hips, strengthens legs, increases focus and calms the nervous system. Cautions: Hip replacements. How To Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Stand …
Hero Pose
(Virasana) Level: Easy Benefits: Stretches the thighs, knees and ankles, good for digestion, assists good posture. Cautions: Knee or ankle injury. How To Fig. 1 Fig. 2 …
Dolphin Pose
(Ardha Pincha Mayurasana) Level: Medium Benefits: This strengthening inversion helps build up the strength needed for the headstand pose while providing many of its wonderful benefits. Develops …
Cow Face Pose
(Gomukhasana) Level: Moderate Benefits: Stretches the hips, ankles, shoulders and chest. Cautions: Knees, shoulders How To Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 Sit on the floor with …
The Eagle Pose
(Garudasana) Level: Easy Benefits: Benefits Strengthens legs, knees ankles. Softens and stretches the joints and ligaments in the arms, shoulders and legs. Helps to relieve cramping in the …
Seated Twist
(Ardha Matsyendrasana) Level: Easy/Moderate Benefits: Stimulates the liver, kidneys and digestive organs. Stretches the shoulders, hips, and neck. Energizes the spine. Relieves menstrual discomfort, fatigue, sciatica and …
Revolved Side Angle Pose
(Parivrtta Parsvakonasana) Level: Easy/Moderate Benefits: Strengthens and stretches the legs, knees & ankles. Opens the groin, spine, chest, lungs & shoulders. Massages abdominal organs, improves digestion and …
Revolved Lunge
Level: Easy/Moderate Benefits: Stretches hips and shoulders, opens chest, relieves minor back pain, stimulates abdominal organs. Cautions: Pregnancy, serious back conditions. How To Fig. 1 Fig. 2 …
Sleeping Pigeon Pose
(Eka Pada Rajakapotasana) Level: Easy/Moderate Benefits: Sciatic and lower back pain, opens hips Cautions: Knee and hip problems, serious back problems How To Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Kneel …
Crescent Moon
(Anjaneyasana) Level: Easy/Moderate Benefits: Increases flexibility in spine, deeply opens lungs and chest, strengthens shoulders, spine and hips. Increases mobility in the thighs and hips. Cautions: High blood …
The Bridge Pose
(Setu Bandha Sarvangasana) Level: Easy Benefits: Strengthens lower back and thighs, tones buttocks, prepares body for deeper backbends. Cautions: Weak knees, neck injuries. How To Fig. 1 Fig. …
Cobra
(Bhujangasana) Level: Easy Benefits: Increases flexibility in spine. Opens the lungs and chest. Tones the arms, shoulders and jaw line. Massages the internal organs. Good for menstrual problems. …
The Pituitary Gland
The pituitary gland is a shaped like a bean and lies at the base of the skull behind the nose. This small gland relays messages from the hypothalamus …
Core Support
Core support is a term much used these days especially in the world of Pilates and Yoga. Basically it is the activation of certain muscles that stabilize our …
Yoga and the Skeletal System
Our skeletal system is a series of long and short bones connected to each other by joints. Our body depends on this skeletal framework for shape and movement, …
Yoga and Muscles
There are more than 640 muscles in our body and these make up more than half of our total weight. We can categorise our muscles as either voluntary …
Yoga and Women’s Health – Menstrual Cramps
Cramps come in so many shapes and sizes and for some fortunate women, not at all. They can be sharp or dull, they can be experienced in the …
Yoga and Women’s Health – PMS (Pre Menstrual Syndrome)
What undeniable evidence of how our body influences our moods PMS is! During this time of the month if someone so much as looks at us the wrong …
Yoga and the Immune System
Your immune system protects you in three different ways: as a first line of defence it creates a barrier that prevents bacteria and viruses from entering your body. …
Yoga and the Respiratory System
Respiration is a two way process. It is the system of supplying oxygen to every cell in the body and then transporting carbon dioxide, the waste product of …
Posture
How often do those around you complain of a sore back? Look at the way they stand or sit. The pain is more than likely the result of …
Yoga Cellular Cleansing
It’s amazing how refreshed you feel after you’ve been regularly practicing yoga asanas and deep breathing for some time. This is because of the squeezing and stretching, twisting …
Yoga and the Circulatory System
Yoga is such a wonderful form of exercise. Not only does it feel good but it can also produce amazing health benefits for all of the bodily systems. …
Learning to Stretch – Bamboo Yoga
In this connection there is an old Chinese tale of a proud oak tree and a humble bamboo plant. The oak tree was very, very big and …
Benefits of Yoga
Why should you practice yoga asanas? Why not jog, lift weights, do aerobics. Or maybe you get your exercise skiing, snowboarding or swimming. Of course other forms of …
Preparing for Meditation & Complete Yoga Breathing
Complete yoga breathing is extremely beneficial for the health of the body. A few of the physical benefits are that it tones the lungs, massages the internal organs and …
Nadi Shodhan Pranayam
Nadi Shodhan Pranayam or also known as alternate nostril breathing. The nadis are the subtle nerve channels in the body and shodhan means purifying or cleaning, so this …