Yoga poses

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There are several Yoga poses as well as many different kinds of Yoga poses. Yoga consists of about eight different general styles or methods of practice. All, of course, share the same basic concepts and mental as well as physical goals.

However, some focus primarily on physically working the back, for instance: the most important Yoga poses in this case will differ from others, remaining the most important Yoga poses for another kind of Yoga. There are also very difficult one might focus on in other styles of Yoga designed to stretch and strengthen other specific parts of the body, and many that work the entire body, treating the body as left and right equals yin and yang.

There are specific Yoga poses for the floor parts of Yoga exercise, as well as the more familiar standing Yoga poses.

One of the most basic kinds of standing Yoga poses one will learn in Yoga is what is called the tree balance. In this balance you will:

1) Prepare as always by checking the posture and lifting through the torso, pushing your shoulders down.

2) Hold your eyes on one object diagonally or straight forward for the entire pose.

3) Stand with your feet together.

4) Lift up onto the balls of your feet.

5) Rock your weight back, onto your heels.

6) Strengthen the right leg shifting all of your weight and lift your left leg slowly up so that your foot lays flat, toes down, resting on your right inner thigh.

7) Your arms slowly lift up to what is called the prayer position: both palms meeting directly above the top of the head—the full body in perfect alignment. Meeting above the crown chakra and lengthening all the way through the body.

The benefits of practicing this posture are many. It will result in remarkably noticeable balance and grace.

The posture requires balance, focus and concentration—all the basic guidelines of Yoga—both spiritual and physical are involved in Yoga poses. The tree balance is one of the many Yoga poses where the key is to relax and clear your mind. Not thinking about the difficulty of the pose itself—releasing tension—that is the mental aspect of several complex positions—without which many Yoga poses would be virtually impossible to hold.

This is one of the most well known Yoga postures. However, there are many. Including, as I mentioned before, many floor Yoga poses. Focus and breath—this is how you remain in any of the Yoga poses.

One example of the floor Yoga poses is the snake:

1) Lay flat on your stomach with your hands on your shoulders.

2) Lift up by straightening the arms and focus up—as though your eyes were also a part of the arch.

3) Focus on pushing the pelvis down towards the floor—arching your back.

4) And keep your shoulders down, as with virtually all Yoga poses.

Another of the most well known Yoga poses is the half-moon position:

1) Prepare in the triangle position (you always want to do each sequence on both sides, left and right—for balance.

The triangle position:

a) Your feet are slightly wider than being aligned beneath your shoulders.
b) Turn the left foot in (pointing forward) and the right foot out (toe pointing to the right side)
c) Be sure that your hips and torso are facing the front completely, set your posture.
d) Straighten your arms and reach up, flattening them down (the whole time really reaching the arms) to shoulder height. Press your arms against an imaginary resistance—slowly.

2) Bend the left knee slowly in this, one of the most popular Yoga poses as you breathe in and go to the floor.

3) Breath out and place your right arm to the floor for support. Put the left arm behind your back.

4) Shift your weight onto the right leg, and breathe in.

5) Lift and straighten your left leg out (towards the ceiling) as you breathe out.

6) Lift your left arm up toward the sky as well.

7) Just keep breathing.

8) Hold the Yoga poses you know as long as you can—but do not strain or pull your muscles.

9) Come back to the halfway position: bending the right knee and arms returning to their straight-out balance position (one of the Yoga poses that is almost always used in the triangle exercises) as you breathe in.

10) And as you breathe out, straighten the leg. You should end up in the same Yoga pose as you began.

Remember, all Yoga poses are meant to be held—to balance and strengthen the body. You do not just reach the posture. Instead you reach it and remain there—thirty seconds, a minute etc. Holding, breathing, the asana, and the pranayama, this is how the balance is earned. In all Yoga poses you will find that you can stretch further and further each time you try.

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