Talasana - Palm-Tree Pose

"Tal" refers to 'palm tree' in Sanskrit. In this pose the upper part of the body is extended straight up like a palm tree.

Sequence:

1. Stand erect with your legs shoulder-width apart.
2. The toes should be pointing outwards.
3. Inhale deeply and raise your hands above the head.
4. Keep the palms facing each other.
5. Raise your heels from the ground.
6. Standing on your toes, exhale slowly.
7. Keeping yourself well-balanced on the toes, stretch your arms further up as you inhale.
8. Try raising your heels and stretching your body to the optimum level.
9. Bend your neck and head backwards and look up.
10. Stay in this position till you feel uncomfortable.
11. Exhale slowly and return to starting position by lowering the arms and simultaneously lowering the heels.
12. Bring the neck and head forward.
13. Relax.

Benefits:

• This yoga pose straightens the spinal column and thus any abnormal curvature can be rectified.
• The lung capacity increases.
• Regular practice of Talasana not only strengthens your body but also makes it supple and flexible.
• The upper body is totally stretched.
• The respiratory muscles become firmer.
• This yoga posture strengthens the muscles of the neck, lower back, abdomen and pelvis.

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Supta Vajrasana - Reclining Adamant Pose

"Supta" means 'reclining' and "Vajra" means 'adamant' in Sanskrit. In this posture the yoga practitioner will be lying down in a supine position in Vajarasana.

Sequence:

1. Sit erect and assume Vajrasana.
2. Lean back slowly from the waist onwards using your elbows for support.
3. Continue leaning back until your back, shoulders and head are touching the floor.
4. Ensure that the knees are not raised from the floor.
5. Cross the arms behind your head.
6. Place the palms beneath the opposite shoulders.
7. Your head should rest on the wrists which serve as a cushion.
8. The knees should be joined together and touching the floor at all times.
9. Close your eyes and relax in this posture for some time.
10. For coming out of the pose hold your ankles and lift the body up to sitting posture.

Caution:

• People with knee, hip or shoulder injury should avoid this pose.Labels

Benefits:

• The pose tones the muscles of the bowels, pancreas, liver, and kidneys.
• Circulation of blood to the thighs, knees, back and neck is improved.
• Supta Vajrasana keeps the gonads and pelvic organs in better health..
• The muscles of the legs, thighs, pelvis and abdomen are stretched and toned up in the final position of the asana.
• This pose increases your lung capacity by expanding the chest.

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Parvatasana - The Mountain Pose

"Parvat" stands for ‘mountain’. In this pose the hands are kept in a position that resembles the peak of a mountain.

Sequence:

1. Sit straight up and assume Padmasana.
2. Intertwine the fingers of both hands to form a finger lock.
3. Inhale and raise the arms above your head.
4. Stretch the arms so that they are straight.
5. The posterior and knees should remain on the ground.
6. Turn up your palms over the head.
7. Exhale.
8. Inhale and now and stretch your arms further up feeling the tug on the shoulder blades.
9. Stretch your trunk upwards and remain in this posture for about ten seconds.
10. Exhale and return to Padmasana.
11. You can also perform the pose with the palms joined together and fingers stretched up.

Benefits:

• Parvatasana helps develop a proper breathing technique.
• With regular practice of the pose, your lung capacity will increase.
• Parvatasana helps reduce flab from the abdomen, tummy, hips and the waist.
• The pose has a slimming effect on the physique.
• The spine and ribs are stretched.
• The abdomen, pelvis and side muscles are pulled up and hence get toned.
• Muscles of the diaphragm develop strength.
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Padmasana - The Lotus Pose

"Padma" means 'lotus' in Sanskrit. In this pose the feet and hands are akin to the petals of a blooming lotus, hence the name.

Sequence:

1. Sit down on the floor with your legs stretched out in front.
2. Grasp the ankle of your right leg with the right hand and the big toe with the fingers of the left hand.
3. Pull the right leg closer to the root of the left thigh, folding the right leg at the knee.
4. Without straining the muscles of the knee place the right foot atop the left thigh.
5. Similarly hold the left leg and place it on top of the right thigh.
6. Press your knees with your palms to ensure they touch the ground.
7. The soles of both feet should face upwards.
8. Bring your head, neck and spine in one straight line.
9. Place palms on the heels of both feet. The palms should be curved in the form of cups and rest one on top of the other.
10. Maintain this posture until you feel the strain in your legs.
11. You may close your eyes if you want.
12. Open your eyes and unlock the feet.
13. Return to the starting posture.

Caution:

• Sciatica patients should avoid this pose.
• Padmasana should never be performed immediately after meals.
• Sitting posture should be erect.

Benefits:

• Padmasana helps to get rid of flab around abdomen, thighs and buttocks.
• The thigh and calf muscles become stronger.
• Arthritis of knee, ankle and hip joints is relieved with practice of Padmasana.
• The pose helps attain a straight posture.
• Padmasana ensures the required blood supply to the abdomino-genital and pelvic areas.
• All muscles, tendons and ligaments are flexed and extended during Padmasana. They are then relaxed when you relax.
• Padmasana tones up the abdomen and spine.
• The erect spine attained in this posture prevents compression of the abdominal viscera.
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Oordhwa Padahastasana

In Sanskrit, "Oordha" means 'lifted', "Pada" means 'feet' and "Hasta" means 'hand'. In this pose the hands touch the raised feet of the practitioner.

Sequence:

1. Lie down on the floor on your back with your legs stretched out and close together.
2. Place your palms on the respective thighs, the fingers pointing towards the feet.
3. Bring the two legs closer so that the big toes and heels are joined.
4. Keep your knees tight and straight.
5. Inhale slowly and now raise the upper and lower part of your body above the ground.
6. Keep both the legs and arms straight.
7. Point the toes outwards.
8. As you do so, slide the palms up the raised legs.
9. Stretch your arms and raising your trunk further up, try to touch the ankles with the finger tips.
10. The upper and lower part of your body should be above the ground, the entire body weight resting on your buttocks.
11. Fix your gaze on the toes.
12. Continue to breathe normally.
13. Maintain this posture as long as you comfortably can.
14. Exhale and with exhalation return to the starting posture.

Benefits:

• The pose makes the back, hips and pelvic region suppler.
• Muscles of thighs and knees get strengthened.
• The feet, calves, knees, thighs, posterior, arms, diaphragm, shoulders and the neck are simultaneously exercised with Oordhwa Padahastasana.
• The abdomen as well as solar plexus attains strength with practice of this pose.
• Women should perform the pose for a healthy uterus.
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Chakrasana - The Wheel Pose Supine

"Chakra" means 'wheel' in Sanskrit. In the final posture of this pose the arched body resembles the rim of a wheel. Hence the name Chakrasana or Wheel Pose.

Sequence:

1. Lie down on your back with both legs apart.
2. Stretch both arms on either side with palms facing downward.
3. Fold both knees and draw the legs back.
4. The heels should be touching the respective buttocks. Both soles should be touching the ground.
5. Bring your hand backwards and place the hands beside the head. The palms should be facing downwards.
6. The palm and heel of each side should be in one straight line.
7. Inhale slowly.
8. Continue inhaling and press the palms and hand on the ground.
9. Taking the support of the hands and legs, raise your shoulder, chest, abdomen, hips and thighs above the ground.
10. The neck and back should be arched with the crown of your head resting firmly on the ground.
11. Exhale and inhale a few time while at this position.
12. Take a deep breath.
13. Press your feet and palms on the ground while holding your breath.
14. Taking the support of your hands and feet, slowly raise your head, shoulders, trunk, abdomen, hips and thighs to the optimum level.
15. Your head should be hanging in between your shoulders.
16. Make sure the elbows are not bent.
17. Try to arch the body as much as possible.
18. Hold your breath and stay in this position for about ten seconds.
19. Exhaling gradually, bring the lower part of your body down and return to the starting position

Benefits:

• The pelvic and abdominal muscles gain strength with this pose.
• Supine Chakrasana benefits all parts of the body.
• The posture also helps strengthen the neck, arms, wrists, fingers, spine, backside, thighs, knees, ankles and feet.

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Bhadrasana - Beneficial Pose

In Sanskrit the word "Bhadra" means 'beneficial'

Sequence:

1. Sit in an upright position and assume Sukhasana.
2. Stretch out both legs in front of you close together.
3. Bend your legs at the knee and bring the feet towards the body. The knees should be pointed outwards.
4. Join the soles of the two legs with the toes and heels close together.
5. Using the thumb, forefinger and middle finger clasp the toes and fore part of both feet together.
6. Maintain an erect posture.
7. Bring the feet closer to your body while bending the elbows outward.
8. Widen your thighs and gently bend the knees downwards.
9. Keep drawing the feet inwards until they are well placed close to the perineum.
10. Place the heels on either sides of the perineum.
11. Sit straight up.
12. Remain in this position for 10-15 seconds, breathing normally.
13. Release the finger lock.
14. Slowly stretch out the legs in front and return to starting posture.

Benefits:

• The pose can relieve stiffness of knees, hips and ankle-joints
• Bhadrasana should be practiced for healthy kidneys, prostrate, and urinary bladder.
• Tension is released from the spinal coccygeal and sacral regions.
• Practicing of this posture helps in blood supply to the muscles and ligaments of the uro-genital region.
• The pelvis and groin muscles are strengthened.
• Inner thighs get toned up.

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Baddha Konasana - Bound Angle Pose

The word "Baddha" means 'locked' and "Kona" means 'angle'. In this posture the body is locked in a typical angle.

Sequence:

1. Sit in Bhadrasana.
2. Relax your whole body.
3. Clasp the fore part of both your feet with your hands.
4. Sit erect and look in front.
5. Gradually bend forward and place the elbows on your thighs, pressing them gently.
6. Take a deep breath and then exhale slowly. While exhaling pull in your abdomen and keep bending your trunk forward. The bending of trunk should be smooth without any jerks.
7. Gently place your forehead on the ground in front of your feet.
8. Slide the elbows below the shin and place them on the ground too. Your forearms should also be on the ground.
9. Remain seated while you are assuming the final posture.
10. The two elbows should be in a straight line.
11. Remain still in the final position for 5 seconds. You should hold this position as long as you can hold your breath.
12. Inhale slowly and as you inhale release your feet, straighten your arms and stretch out your legs.
13. Raise your head and trunk together and return to the starting position.
14. Sit erect and relax to resume normal breathing.
15. Repeat the pose. As Baddha Konasana is a very strenuous pose, you must not do more than two rounds of this pose.

Benefits:

• Baddha Konasana helps get rid of thigh flab.
• It also increases flexibility of hips and the spine.
• The abdomen and pelvic area get toned.
• Baddha Konasana can be practiced to relieve back ache and pain of hip-joints.

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Padmasana - The Lotus Pose

 

"Padma" means 'lotus' in Sanskrit. In this pose the feet and hands are akin to the petals of a blooming lotus, hence the name.

Sequence:

1. Sit down on the floor with your legs stretched out in front.
2. Grasp the ankle of your right leg with the right hand and the big toe with the fingers of the left hand.
3. Pull the right leg closer to the root of the left thigh, folding the right leg at the knee.
4. Without straining the muscles of the knee place the right foot atop the left thigh.
5. Similarly hold the left leg and place it on top of the right thigh.
6. Press your knees with your palms to ensure they touch the ground.
7. The soles of both feet should face upwards.
8. Bring your head, neck and spine in one straight line.
9. Place palms on the heels of both feet. The palms should be curved in the form of cups and rest one on top of the other.
10. Maintain this posture until you feel the strain in your legs.
11. You may close your eyes if you want.
12. Open your eyes and unlock the feet.
13. Return to the starting posture.

Caution:

• Sciatica patients should avoid this pose.
• Padmasana should never be performed immediately after meals.
• Sitting posture should be erect.

Benefits:

• Padmasana helps to get rid of flab around abdomen, thighs and buttocks.
• The thigh and calf muscles become stronger.
• Arthritis of knee, ankle and hip joints is relieved with practice of Padmasana.
• The pose helps attain a straight posture.
• Padmasana ensures the required blood supply to the abdomino-genital and pelvic areas.
• All muscles, tendons and ligaments are flexed and extended during Padmasana. They are then relaxed when you relax.
• Padmasana tones up the abdomen and spine.
• The erect spine attained in this posture prevents compression of the abdominal viscera.

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Moola Bandha - Anal Lock

 

"Moola" means 'root' or 'source' in Sanskrit. The other meaning of moola is also 'anal'. In this yoga bandha anal lock is performed.

Sequence:

1. Sit down on the floor.
2. Come into Siddhasana.
3. Your left heel should press against the perineum.
4. Look in front.
5. Exhale slowly.
6. Contract your abdomen to lock the anal opening.
7. Immediately contract the external and the internal sphincter muscles strongly.
8. Simultaneously draw the sphincter muscles up.
9. Intensify the contraction process.
10. Hold the contraction for 10 seconds.
11. Slowly exhale and relax the sphincter muscles.
12. You can start with five rounds and then increase by one per week to raise the turns to 10 times.

Benefits:

• Urogenital disorders get cured with this bandha.
• This yoga bandha is beneficial for piles, fistula and prostatic hypertrophy patients.
• The pelvis and organs of this region can benefit from Moola bandha.
• Blood supply to the pelvic region gets augmented.
• Rectal prolapse is prevented.

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