Asanas | Postures

Gives quick energy and vitality; improves and strengthens every muscle in the body’s core, especially in the abdomen; increases the flexibility of the spine; corrects bad posture; promotes proper kidney function; and helps to cure enlargement of the liver and spleen.  It increases the flexibility and strength of the rectus abdominus, latissmus dorsi, oblique, deltoid and trapezius muscles.  Half Moon also firms and trims the waistline, hips, abdomen, buttocks and thighs.

Increases the flexibility of the spine, the sciatic nerves and of most of the tendons and ligaments of the legs and strengthens the biceps of thighs and calves. It also greatly improves blood circulation in the legs and to the brain and strengthens the rectus abdominus, gluteus maximus, oblique, deltoid, and trapezius muscles.

Will tone and shape your legs like nobody’s business!  The definition and strength you gain here are among yoga’s fastest results. It opens the pelvis and makes the hip joints more flexible and also firms the upper arms. This posture will increases blood circulation in the knees and ankle joints and will help to relieve rheumatism, arthritis, and gout in the legs, and helps to cure slipped disc and lumbago in the lower spine.  Awkward Pose also promotes laser-beam concentration.

Is the only pose that opens up the 14 largest joints in the skeletal system. Eagle also supplies fresh blood to the reproductive organs and the kidneys, increasing sexual power and helping to clear up reproductive problems. It helps firm calves, thighs, hips, abdomen, and upper arms. It also improves the flexibility of the hip, knee, and ankle joints and strengthens the latissimus dorsi, trapezius and deltoid muscles. This posture is very good for varicose veins.

Helps develop concentration, patience, and determination. Physically, it tightens abdominal and thigh muscles, improves flexibility of the sciatic nerves, and strengthens the tendons, biceps of the thigh muscles, and hamstrings in the legs, as well as the deltoid, trapezius, latissimus dorsi, scapula, biceps, and triceps.  When you touch your forehead to your knee, you create front-side compression, so you are also squeezing and flushing out the internal abdominal organs, such as the gall bladder, pancreas and spleen as well as the uterus and ovaries.

Is a perfect example of the “tourniquet,” or “damming” effect in Yoga, because it transfers the circulation from one side of the body to the other, and then equalizes it-circulating fresh blood to each internal organ and gland to keep them healthy. Physically, it firms the abdominal wall and upper thighs, tightens upper arms, hips, and buttocks and improves the flexibility and strength of the lower spine. It develops balance and increases the size and elasticity of the rib cage and the lungs. Mentally, this pose helps develop concentration, patience, and determination.

The forward tilt of your torso sends high-speed blood pouring into the heart, especially the neglected lower region, cleaning out the veins and all the arteries, strengthening the heart muscle.  The same rejuvenating flood rushes into the brain as well.  It is also one of the best exercises for bad posture.  By perfecting body control and balance it strengthens physical, psychological, and mental powers.

Cures and prevents sciatica by stretching and strengthening the sciatic nerves and the tendons of the legs. It helps the functioning of most of the internal abdominal organs, especially the small and large intestine and gives you added flexibility in the pelvis, ankles, and hip joints, and especially in the last five vertebrae of the spine. This posture is very good for depression, loss of memory, constipation, abdominal obesity and helps with diabetes and hyperacidity.

The only posture in the world that improves every muscle, joint, tendon and internal organ in the body. At the same time, it revitalizes nerves, veins, and tissues. It helps cure lumbago and rheumatism of the lower spine by flexing and strengthening the last five vertebrae.  It will help to improve crooked spines as well.  This is the most important pose to increase the strength and flexibility of the hip joint and of the muscles of the side of the torso. It also firms upper thighs and hips, slims the waistline, and improves the deltoid, trapezius, scapula, and latissimus muscles.

This posture slims the abdomen, waistline, hips, buttocks, and upper thighs. Increases the flexibility of the spine and the sciatic nerves and of most of the tendons and ligaments of the legs, and strengthens the biceps of thighs and calves. It also greatly improves blood circulation in the legs and to the brain, and strengthens the rectus abdominus, gluteus maximus, oblique, deltoid, and trapezius muscles.  It massages and compresses the thyroid gland which helps to regulate the metabolism and the immune system.

The Tree Pose improves posture and balance and increases the flexibility of the ankles and knees as well as the hip joints  By strengthening the internal oblique muscles, it prevents hernia.

Toe Stand strengthens the knees and is therapeutic for rheumatism of the knees, ankles and feet.  It also opens up the knee and hip joints and helps cure hemorrhoid problems.  It also develops mental strength and patience.

Savasana facilitates powerful blood flow then lets circulation return to normal, creating internal cleansing and greatly magnifying the benefits of the postures that precede it.  It also teaches complete relaxation.

Cures and prevents flatulence, which is the source of most chronic abdominal discomforts.  Improves the flexibility of the hip joints and firms the abdomen, thighs, and hips. Strengthens the bicep and tricep muscles of the upper arms and all the muscles of the forearm.

One of the best ways to maintain the body in perfect condition. It increases spinal strength and flexibility, helps prevent lower backache, and helps cure lumbago, rheumatism, and arthritis of the spine. It also relieves menstrual problems (irregularity, cramps, backache), cures loss of appetite, helps correct bad posture, and improves the functioning of the liver and spleen. The Cobra strengthens the deltoids, trapezius, and triceps.

Has the same benefits as the Cobra, but it is even more potent in the cure of any back or spinal problem such as gout, slipped disc, and sciatica. It cures tennis elbow and is also excellent for firming buttocks and hips.

Firms the abdominal wall and upper thighs, and tightens upper arms, hips, and buttocks. It increases the size and elasticity of the rib cage and the lungs and improves the flexibility and strength of the lower spine and most of the body’s muscles.

Improves the functioning of the large and small intestines, the liver, kidneys, and spleen. It helps straighten rounded spines, relieves backaches, and improves pigeonchest by opening the rib cage, permitting maximum expansion of lungs and increased oxygen intake. The Bow also revitalizes all spinal nerves by increasing circulation to the spine. It improves digestion and strengthens abdominal muscles, upper arms, thighs and hips (it is especially good for increasing the flexibility of dancers’ hip joints). It also improves the flexibility of the scapula, latissimus dorsi, deltoid, and trapezius muscles.

Helps cure sciatica, gout, and rheumatism in the legs. It slims thighs, firms calf muscles, and strengthens the abdomen. It also strengthens and improves flexibility of lower spine, hips, knees, and ankle joints.

It also cures indigestion and stretches the lower part of the lungs, increasing blood circulation to the brain. It firms the abdomen and thighs.  And it increases the flexibility of the hip joints, scapula, deltoids, triceps, and latissimus dorsi muscles.

Produces maximum compression of the spine, which stimulates the nervous system. Improves the flexibility of the neck and spine and relieves backache. The peak of the floor series. This posture stretches the abdominal organs to the maximum and cures constipation. It stretches the throat, thyroid gland, and parathyroid gland. Like the Bow Pose, it opens a narrow rib cage to give more space to the lungs. It also firms and slims the abdomen and the waistline. In addition, this posture allows release of emotional tension held in the body as stress, anxiety, anger and depression.

Produces the opposite effect of the Camel, giving maximum longitudinal extension of the spine. As a result, it stretches the spine to permit the nervous system to receive proper nutrition. It also maintains the mobility and elasticity of the spine and back muscles. The Rabbit improves digestion and helps cure colds, sinus problems and chronic tonsilitis. And it has a wonderful effect on thyroid and parathyroid glands. The pose improves the flexibility of the scapula and trapezius and helps children reach their full growth potential.

Helps to balance the blood sugar level. It improves the flexibility of the sciatic nerves, ankles, knees and hip joints; improves digestion; enhances the proper functioning of the kidneys; and expands the solar plexus.

Increases the flexibility of the trapezius, deltoid, erectus femoris, and bicep muscles, sciatic nerves, tendons, hip joints, and the last five vertebrae of the spine. Relieves chronic diarrhea by improving the circulation of the bowels. It also increases circulation to the liver and spleen and improves digestion.

The only exercise that twists the spine from top to bottom at the same time. As a result, it increases circulation and nutrition to spinal nerves, veins, and tissues, and improves spinal elasticity and flexibility and the flexibility of the hip joints. It helps cure lumbago, rheumatism of the spine, improves digestion, removes flatulence from the intestines, and firms the abdomen, thighs, and buttocks.

This last breathing exercise strengthens all the abdominal organs, increases the circulation and stimulates the digestive system. It makes the abdominal wall strong and trims the waistline. It also allows the body to release toxins through the respiratory system.