Yoga Position - What Does Each Type Do?
By Della Menechella, Thu Dec 8th
I often wondered what the value of each type of yoga positionis, so I did some research to find out. All yoga positions helpto develop strength and flexibility. Yet the type of yogaposition that you do also offers some very specific benefits. Standing Poses They are included in many poses and they help to align your feetand body. This type of yoga position is especially useful inimproving your posture. Standing poses strengthen your legswhile simultaneously increasing flexibility in your legs andhips. They add to the mobility of your neck and shoulders andthey increase the flexibility in your pelvis and lower back. Oneof the most basic standing poses is Mountain Pose.
Seated Poses These poses help increase flexibility in your hips and lowerback, while also strengthening your back. They add suppleness toyour spine and elasticity to your hips, knees, ankle and groin.They also encourage deeper breathing, which contributes to youfeeling calm and peaceful. Forward Bends This type of yoga position helps stretch your lower back andhamstrings. Forward bends also release tension in your back,neck, shoulders, and increase the flexibility in your spine.They often promote a sense of calmness. I find forward bendsparticularly challenging since I have a considerable amount ofstiffness in my neck due to an old gymnastics injury. This isthe type of yoga position where I often use a prop such as astrap or block. Back Bends They open your chest, rib cage, and hips. They strengthen yourarms and shoulders, while simultaneously increasing flexibilityin your shoulders. They help relieve tension from the front ofyour body and hips and they also increase spinal stability. Youshould always do back bends as a complement to forward bends inorder to maintain balance in your body. Balance Although balance poses can be challenging, I find them to besome of the most fun poses to do. They help you develop muscletone and coordination and also strength and agility. They helpimprove your posture because you really need to elongate yourspine in order to keep yourself from falling over. This type ofyoga position helps train your mind to focus your attention; ifyour attention if not focused, you will not be able to do thepose. Twists I love
to do twists. Twists release tension inyour spine and increase shoulder and hip mobility. They alsohelp relieve backaches by stretching and opening up your backmuscles. I often experience tightness in my upper back andtwists help me loosen up this area. It is important to always dotwists on both sides of your body in order to ensure alignmentand balance. Supine and Prone Poses Supine poses are done on your back. They help stretch yourabdominal muscles, they open your hips, and increase your spinalmobility. They release tension and strengthen your back, armsand legs. Prone poses are done facing the floor. They strengthen your armsand back and open up your hips and groin. They relieve tensionand increase flexibility in your spine. One of my favorite proneposes is Extended Seal because I find it very relaxing and ithelps stretch out my shoulders and upper back. Inversions This type of yoga position develops strength and stamina,particularly in your upper body. It also increases circulationbecause since your legs are higher than your heart, it reversesthe normal flow of blood. Inversions help pull fluid out of yourfeet and legs, so they are great to do after you have beenstanding up for a long time. Advanced inversion poses require agreat deal of strength and alignment and should only be learnedunder the guidance of a certified teacher. People with glaucoma,pregnant women and those who are menstruating should avoidinversion poses. Relaxation Poses Relaxation poses are usually done at the end of a yoga practice.They calm your mind and body and encourage a deep feeling ofrelaxation. This type of yoga position is often one of the mostchallenging poses to do, particularly for Westerners who oftenhave a difficult time letting go. One of the most well-knownrelaxation poses is Corpse Pose. There are hundreds of poses in yoga and they all providewonderful benefits for your mind and body. By understanding eachtype of yoga position, you can choose a well rounded practicewith asanas from each type or do those that meet your body’sneeds at any given time. About the author:Della Menechella is a yoga and fitness enthusiast who has beeninvolved in fitness for over thirty years. Her websitehttp://www.beauty-fitness-yoga-source.com/ is filled withpractical information about how you can make yoga and fitness apositive part of your life. Visit the site and get your freemeditation e-book.
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