Yoga Poses And How They Work – Some Popular Yoga Exercises


Yoga has been garnering much attention across the world, especially in health and fitness circles. Practiced in India for over 5000 years, yoga poses help you build physical health and stay centered, reduce stress levels, and give you renewed energy! Yoga poses are called asanas in Sanskrit. Doing these regularly is a great way to stay fit and be stress free! Yoga does not require expensive equipment and can be done by almost everybody. It unites all the energies of the body, which results in improving overall health. Asanas can help fight stiffness, hardening of the arteries, hormonal fluctuations, depression, and the loss of bone density.

yoga poses
Vrikshasana or the tree pose is one of the simplest yoga poses.

Six Popular Yoga Poses And How They Can Benefit Your Body

  1. Tree Pose (Vrikshasana)

    This yoga pose requires you to stand on one leg, while the other leg is bent and placed on the inner thigh of the first leg. It is excellent for strengthening calf, ankle, and thigh muscles. At the same time, it improves the balance of the body and the mind. It is one of yoga’s simplest postures and its name comes from the Sanskrit word vriksh, which means tree.

  2. Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Shvanasana) 

    This asana involves forming an inverted V-shape with your body with the feet and palms flat on the ground, while the hips rise towards the ceiling. This asana improves digestion, helps relieve the symptoms of menopause, strengthens the immune system, prevents osteoporosis, and relieves stress. It stretches the body all over and builds both arm and leg strength.

    yoga pose
    The yoga pose called Adho Mukha Shvanasana helps strengthen the immune system.
  3. Full Boat Pose (Paripurna Navasana) 

    Those who are keen to tone their tummy should try this yoga pose. Sit on the yoga mat and form a V-shape with your legs towards the sky and your arms parallel to the ground. This pose strengthens the abdomen, improves digestion, and stimulates the thyroid, the prostate, and the kidneys.

    yoga poses for abs
    Paripurna Navasana is one of the yoga poses for abs. It can help you get a toned tummy.
  4. Crescent Pose (Anjaneyasana)

    Start with a lunge and then bring down one knee while raising your arms upwards. This yoga pose releases tension in the hips, strengthens your hamstrings, thigh muscles, and quads. It also prevents lower back pain.

    common yoga poses
    Anjaneyasana is one of the common yoga poses used to reduce lower back pain.
  5. Chair Pose (Utkatasana) 

    Can’t wait to tone your thigh and calf muscles? This easy yoga pose improves circulation to your legs as you seat yourself on an imaginary chair. It strengthens your spine, upper back, and buttocks. It also stimulates the heart, the diaphragm, and other abdominal organs.

    difficult yoga poses
    Utkatasana or the chair pose is one of the most difficult yoga poses.
  6. Extended Triangle Pose (Utthita Trikonasana) 

    Trikona is the Sanskrit word for a triangle. In Trikonasana, you must stand straight and spread your legs apart. Next, bend down sideways from your hips to touch your toes with one hand. Raise the other hand toward the ceiling and turn your neck upwards. This pose helps improve fertility, reduces lower back pain in pregnant women, tones the spinal nerves, stimulates abdominal organs, and reduces the risk of osteoporosis.

    triangle yoga pose
    Utthita Trikonasana or the triangle yoga pose reduces the risk of osteoporosis.

    Dr Loren Fishman, author of Yoga for Osteoporosis, conducted a study in which she found that 85 percent of osteoporosis patients who did a set of yoga poses for a period of two years had gained bone density in their spine and hips.

Yoga increases flexibility, massages all internal organs, and detoxifies the body. The best part about this practice is that its benefits are not restricted to the physical level. It harmonizes the mind with the body. This balances the neurological system, brings inner peace, and stimulates creativity. For a healthier and happier lifestyle, do a few yoga poses everyday. You’ll soon see how they transform your life!


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