Yoga Poses
There are many yoga poses with animal names. It's only natural, as the early yogis were influenced by what was around them. As they watched the animals around them they noticed that they stretched to gain flexibility, strength and balance before moving. Animals incorporate these stretching poses naturally without stress.
.Down Dog
On hands and knees. Set your knees directly below your hips and your hands slightly forward of your shoulders. Spread your palms and fingers and turn your toes under.
Exhale and lift your knees away from the floor. At first keep the knees slightly bent and the heels lifted away from the floor. Lengthen your tailbone away by pushing away from the ground with your hands. Against this resistance, lift the sitting bones toward the ceiling, and then gradually cycle out your legs bringing your heels toward the ground.
Keep the head between the upper arms.
Benefits:
- Helps prevent osteoporosis, strengthens bone
- Relieves headaches, insomnia, back pain, fatigue
- Improves digestion
- Stretches shoulders, legs, hands, feet’s arches and arms
- Energizing
- Calms the brain and releases stress
Contraindications/cautions
Recent or chronic injury to the back, hips, arms or shoulders, high blood pressure.
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Cobra Pose
UP
Benefits
- Lie on your stomach with your toes flat on the floor and forehead resting on the ground.
- Keep your legs close together, with your feet and heels lightly touching each other.
- Place your hands (palms downwards) under your shoulders, keeping your elbows parallel and close to your torso.
- Taking a deep breath in, slowly lift your head, chest and abdomen while keeping your navel on the floor.
- Pull your torso back and off the floor with the support of your hands.
- Be gentle with your back so not to overstrain
Benefits
- Strengthens the spine
- Stretches chest and lungs, shoulders, and arms
- Stimulates abdominal organs
- Helps relieve stress and fatigue
- Opens the heart and lungs
- Soothes sciatica
- Therapeutic for asthma
- Back injury
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Headache
- Pregnancy
UPWARD FACING DOG
This pose is similar to cobra but your body is further forward to your arms and your tummy and upper thighs are slightly lifted off the ground. There is a more intense stretch in your back. be gentle with your back in case of overstraining.
BENEFITS
Contraindications and Cautions
This pose is similar to cobra but your body is further forward to your arms and your tummy and upper thighs are slightly lifted off the ground. There is a more intense stretch in your back. be gentle with your back in case of overstraining.
BENEFITS
- Improves posture
- Strengthens the spine, arms, wrists
- Stretches chest and lungs, shoulders, and abdomen
- Firms the buttocks
- Stimulates abdominal organs
- Helps relieve mild depression, fatigue, and sciatica
- Therapeutic for asthma
Contraindications and Cautions
- Back injury
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Headache
- Pregnancy