| For ages, man has benefited from the rewards of | | | | body and relieves shoulders and back from strains. |
| yoga. Yoga postures or 'asanas' have the ability to | | | | Bridge pose, another bending exercise, makes the |
| rejuvenate tired limbs, tone internal organs and refresh | | | | lower body stronger. By stimulating the endocrine and |
| stressed minds. Some common yoga poses involve | | | | nervous systems, it contributes new spurts of energy |
| different limbs to sit, stand, twist, balance or bend | | | | in the body. Cobra position employs bending of the |
| backwards and forwards. Irrespective of their ages, | | | | back and has multifarious rewards. It acts as a core |
| strength, litheness and levels of stamina, people in | | | | strengthener; the chest is widened, the kidneys are |
| general, can practice yoga easily. | | | | re-energized and the nervous system is recharged. |
| A variety of exercise postures are commonly known | | | | Two other overall empowering stances are Half |
| for their wide range of merits. Some basic postures | | | | Forward fold and Plank pose. Both these positions build |
| that are practiced in a sitting position like the Child pose, | | | | up the central reserves of energy in the body, |
| the Easy pose, the Extended Dog pose, stretch and | | | | elongate the spinal column and provide reinforcement |
| lengthen the spine. They bring an inner peace to the | | | | to the muscles of the back. |
| body. Flexibility of the back is also brought about by | | | | Balancing the body can be learned through yoga |
| them. The Child pose further massages and tones the | | | | practice and once the art is and mastered its fruits can |
| muscles of the abdomen which facilitates the digestion | | | | be earned. Tree pose helps in enhancing balance as it |
| and elimination of food. | | | | makes ankles and knees strong. This exercise largely |
| Twists of various limbs and the back are also basic | | | | aids the mind to focus attention and improve memory. |
| but effective yoga exercises. Both the Belly-twist | | | | Attaining perfection in the Headstand develops |
| posture and the Knee-down twist give a stretch to the | | | | retaining power and concentration; it fortifies the skin |
| muscles of the back; they also realign the spinal | | | | and hair, makes blood circulation better and acts as a |
| column and keep the spinal disks hydrated. | | | | stimulant for the immunological system. The vital point |
| Threading-the-Needle posture works well for the | | | | of the body 'crown chakra' is kindled by it. A yoga |
| elongation of the shoulders, arms, upper back and | | | | posture is never experimented by itself. A whole |
| neck. Bending exercises are another key feature of | | | | sequence including warm-up, breathing, actual stance |
| yogic performance; in this routine, the body is either | | | | taking, meditating and relaxing exercises, is chosen and |
| bent forward or backwards. The digestive, nervous | | | | completed for best results. Corpse pose is an essential |
| and endocrine systems of the body are greatly | | | | for relaxation. This position uplifts the body, mind and |
| benefited by the Standing Forward fold. The Plow | | | | spirit. It is a great posture to alleviate physical and |
| pose similarly improves blood and lymph circulation, it | | | | mental anxiety on the whole. |
| stimulates the thyroid and builds the immunity of the | | | | |