When you do yoga for the first time or even see pictures, it may seem complicated. You may not get it right at first but over time, you will. It is the only form of exercise that works on muscular strength and endurance, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility and body composition. It promotes fitness and improves balance. It also makes you strong by improving your willpower.
Let us look at a few postures to ring in the new year in a healthy way.
MAHA BANDHA
- Sit in any meditative posture with back straight and exhale forcefully through mouth.
- Perform the breathing techniques jalandhar, udyan and moola bandhas three times. Hold for as long as comfortable.
Benefits: This helps check the ageing process and control anger.
Note: Read and watch how to do the bandhas on gulfnews.com
SHEETLI PRANAYAMA
- Sit in any meditative posture and roll tongue to slowly inhale through the hole made by the fold.
- After five counts press chin to chest.
- Raise chin after ten counts and exhale slowly through nostrils.
- Repeat 15 times.
Benefits: This helps cool the body and reduces stress.
BHUJANGASANA
- Lie flat on stomach with elbows bent close to you and palms flat next to chest. Keep feet together and chin on the ground.
- Now, with the strength of arms, slowly raise upper body and straighten arms, lifting stomach but keeping tail bone down.
- Keep shoulders relaxed and inhale while lifting. But breathe normally once in the posture.
- Hold the posture for 15-20 seconds.
Benefits: This helps strengthen the spine, chest and shoulders, stretches the abdomen, increases heart-lung capacity and improves blood circulation.
VIPRIT KARNI ASANA
- Lie flat on back and raise legs to 90 degrees.
- Fold legs towards the head, propping hips with hands and lifting off the ground. Stabilise and breathe normally.
- Distribute the entire weight of the body across shoulders, neck and elbows. Ensure that legs are straight.
- Hold posture for 10-30 seconds and return to the base position slowly, first bringing down hips, then legs.
Benefits: This helps strengthen the neck and vertebral column by massaging the nerves and improving blood circulation in the head and neck region. It helps in battling stress and alleviates asthma, diabetes, menopause and menstrual disorders.
NAUKASANA
- Lie flat on back with hands under the head. Inhale and hold breath. Raise legs and upper body with hands, supporting the head, balancing body on buttocks. Ensure that hands and legs are at the same level once raised.
- Hold this posture for 10-30 seconds while exhaling, focusing on the abdominal muscles before returning to the first position.
Benefits: This asana helps strengthen the abdominal and back muscles by stimulating the digestive, circulatory and nervous systems. It also eliminates lethargy by massaging the internal organs.
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