| Yoga is now recognized as a science and western | | | | neck acts as a base for the body. The following |
| scholars have reported the beneficial effects of this | | | | simple steps need be taken.a) Take a mat and lay it |
| form of exercise. Yoga has two parts namely the | | | | on the floorb) Lie down on the mat and breathe |
| spiritual and the physical. One cannot comment on the | | | | deeplyc) Raise your legs up wards to vertical position |
| spiritual part as that is beyond the understanding of the | | | | and at the same time let your hand get under your |
| average man or woman. However the physical | | | | hips to steady the bodyd) Keep the neck on the mat |
| properties of the yoga do merit consideration. | | | | and keep the legs absolutely vertical.e) Hold the pose |
| Yoga as we know consists of certain poses or asans | | | | for as long as you can without any difficulty being |
| which are retained by the person performing yoga for | | | | caused to yourself.f) Slowly lower the body and let |
| a length of time. In this it has a fundamental difference | | | | your hand lie by your side on completion of this pose. |
| with organized exercises like weight training and free | | | | This yogic pose must not be performed in case you |
| hand exercises. In yoga there are no repetitions and | | | | are having any heart problem or any form of blood |
| the essence of this form of exercise is retaining a | | | | pressure. Legend has it that the pose is very helpful |
| pose for a length of time. Yoga is by itself unique and | | | | for all ailments connected with the lungs and |
| the poses if done properly are beneficial to a great | | | | strengthens the brain. In particular it makes the spine |
| extant. The clue in any Yogic asana is to retain the | | | | stronger and more supple. It also is helpful in stomach |
| pose for some length of time say for 1 to 5 minutes or | | | | problems like loss of appetite and gas. The eyes, ears |
| even more and at the same time to breathe deeply | | | | and throat are greatly benefitted by doing this asana. |
| through the nose. The mouth should not be opened. | | | | I recommend that you do this asana for at least one |
| One of the more important poses is the sarvang | | | | minute to begin with and gradually increase the time to |
| asana also called the shoulder stand. The sarvang | | | | 5 or 6 minutes. After completing the sarvang asana lie |
| asana is relatively easier to perform than the shirsh | | | | down on the mat and rest till you feel normal again. |
| asana (Head stand), but has most of the benefits that | | | | The sarvang asana is the stepping stone to the |
| comes by way of the head stand. This pose can be | | | | shirsha asana and after you have perfected this pose |
| tried by you as well after watching a TV program or a | | | | you can go on to advanced pose. Yoga is no longer a |
| DVD. Basically the pose consists of raising the body | | | | mystery science and its physical properties are well |
| upwards and supporting it with your hands while the | | | | documented and beneficial. |