Category: Yoga

The Sanskrit name for fish pose refers to Matsya who was an incarnation of the Hindu deity Vishnu.The story goes, that long ago, the earth had become corrupt and was going to be overtaken by a flood.Vishnu who was charged with preserving the universe ,turned himself into a fish called MATSYA.He carried the great Hindu sages to safety in a boat, which ensured the preservation of all their wisdom and of mankind itself.Just as Matsya rebalanced earth and ocean, so practising Fish pose can be a way of reestablishing your focus and giving resilience when you feel gravity laden.You will feel this when you burrow into the earth through the the strong activities of your legs which in turn bends your chest like a wave and deepens your breath.How to…

Tadasan/ Samasthiti Sanskrit words meaning: Tada – mountain Asana – pose Tadasana (Mountain Pose) Method: Stand with feet together, big toes and heels touching. Arms by your sides. Lift your toes off the mat and spread them back down – one by one. Lift the inner ankles and knees and engage the thighs. Engage the abdomen by slightly drawing it in, lift your chest, roll the shoulders back and down, away from your neck. Gaze forward, hands by your sides, fingers alert but not strained. Feel the energy lifting up and rooting into the earth at the same time. Tadasana (Mountain Pose) Health benefits Back pain Anxiety Digestive issues Back pain Flat feet Tadasana (Mountain Pose) Precautions Avoid practicing this asana for too long as prolonged standing may cause strain…

Vrikshasana or the Tree Pose is so called because the final position of this asana resembles the shape of a tree. This is derived from two words ‘vriksha’, which means tree in Sanskrit, and ‘asana’, which means posture. This ‘tree pose’ dates back to ancient mythology, and there are in fact references of it in the Ramayana. Lord Ravana stood in vrikshasana for penance, praying to Lord Shiva for a boon, and the posture has been considered powerful ever since. Since vrikshasana is primarily a balancing posture, it aids in improving balance – both physical and emotional. Just as a tree is able to balance while staying firmly rooted, the posture aims to keep your body and mind from wandering and stay balanced while being in the moment. You’ll find…

BaddhakonasanaTranslated as Butterfly poseBaddha Konasana (Butterfly Pose) Method:Step by Step Instructionssit with legs straight out in front of you. Exhale and bend your knees, and pull your heels towards the pelvis.Drop your knees out to the sides and press the soles of feet together.Bring your heels as close to pelvis as you can.Grab the big toe to each foot with first two fingers and thumb. Try to keep the outer edges of feet on the floor.Sit with tailbone in back and pubis equidistant from the floor. Lengthen the front torso through the top of the sternum.Don’t force knees down. Instead release the heads of thigh bones towards the floor.Stay in the pose for 1-5 minutes. Inhale and lift your knees away from the floor and extend the legs back to…

Garudasana Also known as Eagle pose.Garuda was considered King of birds and also represented as Lord Vishnu's vehicle.Garudasana comes from the ancient Hatha yoga practice. It is an intermediate hip-closing pose which requires the practitioner to intertwine their arms and legs and balance all their body weight on one foot.This pose improves balance, calms the mind and strengthens the ankles, knees and calves while gently stretching the hip, shoulders, thighs, upper-back.Garudasana (Eagle Pose) Step by Step Instruction1) Stand in tadasan, slightly bend left leg and firmly plant it on the floor, slowly lift right leg up.2) Place your right thigh high across the left thigh(cross-legged) and aim to wrap your right leg on top of left leg, by taking your right shin behind your left calf.3) Try to hook your…

Ushtrasana, also known as Camel Pose is a kneeling back-bending asana. The name comes from the Sanskrit words,  Ustra meaning "camel", and  Asana meaning "posture" or "seat". Ustrasana, Ushtrasana, or Camel Pose Step-by-Step Instructions Starting Position: Vajrasana Stand on the knees. Keep the thighs fully straight. Keep the knees and feet together. Lean in the backward direction. Slowly move more backward. Reach the right heel with the right hand, and the left heel with the left hand. Avoid straining the body. Push the hips in the forward direction. The thighs should be kept vertical. Then bend the head and the spine as backward and as far as possible without straining. Relax the body and the muscles of the back. Support the body weight equally on the legs and arms. Keep…

Vakrasana or the Twisted Pose makes the spine flexible and removes fat around the waist. In Sanskrit Vakra means twisted and asana is a pose. In Vakrasana, the trunk is twisted to either side and is practiced in the sitting position. It is a good twisting pose for beginners. Those who cannot perform Ardha Matsyendrasana can perform Vakrasana to get similar benefits. It's one of the postures which is explained in traditional hatha yoga, it’s a sitting posture technique: How to Do Vakrasana or Half Spinal Twist Pose? - Step by Step Instructions Sit in dandasana, the stick pose, both legs together and arms by the side of buttocks, upper body is an angle of 90 with lower body 2.fold right leg, place the ankle aligned with opposite knee, knee…