A Detailed Look At Yoga Postures
Many people enjoy learning yoga postures for fitness and relaxation. You may be one of them! Put on some comfortable clothing that you can move in, tie your hair up, and tuck your shirt in so it won't fall over your head, revealing what is beneath. Move to an uncarpeted floor, put bring along a towel or sticky mat to give you a bit of cushioning.
The yoga postures, also known as "asana," originally were a stable position for prolonged meditation. They are more than just stretching. They open up the energy channels within the body. They also purify the body and strengthen our ability to control and focus the mind.
About The Various Types Of Yoga Postures
Yoga postures can easily be divided into twelve categories, and a yogi (yoga student) will become acquainted with postures in each type. (Note that some yoga positions fall within more than one type.) Let's take a look at them.
There are seated Yoga Postures. These include the basic lotus position, the seated half-twist, and many others. There are sixty-two poses that fall within this category.
There are also twists. This category includes fourteen postures, which includes the belly twist, chair twist, revolving downward facing dog, and shiva twist.
The next category we will discuss are the inversions, of which there are only about four. This is the division for those yoga postures where the body is upside down. They include the dolphin, plow, shoulder stand, and headstand prep.
Then there are balancing poses, which is a basic element of yoga postures - as balance is, itself, a key ingredient of yoga. The balancing poses include eagle, standing splits, tree, and tiptoe pose, among many others.
As for the core strengthening poses, boat, crane, and various plank positions. As the core gains strength, the positions become easier. Eight positions are in this category.
The backbending poses require flexibility, though, like all the others, there are variations for every level of yogi. These poses include the bow, cobra, and bridge camel, as well as several others - twenty-four fall within this category.
There are also fourteen forward bending poses. These can be standing or in almost any other posture. Some examples of these are child, pyramid, rabbit, and wide-legged forward bend.
There are only a few side bending poses. The names of them can give you an idea of the side bending movement: crescent moon, gate, and half-circle are some examples.
Another common feature of many yoga postures are ones that fall into within the hip opening poses - goddess squat, joyful baby, firelog, and downward facing frog are a few of the twenty-three postures within this category.
Some yoga postures are considered to be prone yoga poses - including crocodile, half locust, sphinx, and upward facing dog. There are just eleven of these.
There are thirty-four poses that are standing yoga poses. They take balance! These include dancer, five-pointed star, mountain, and prayer twist.
Where would a yoga class be without the traditional "ending positions" known as the supine yoga poses? These, done on the back, are a relaxing way to end a yoga class. Most classes end with corpse, but there are also fish, halfwind relieving pose, and one leg bridge, among others.
How To Hold A Yoga Posture
Be sure to breathe slowly and deeply while in a yoga posture. Do as much as you feel safe in doing - push yourself, but hold where you have a good stretch or feel your body is working. You should not have pain, strain, or fatigue.
