| The most popular form of yoga in the western world | | | | flow to the stomach, colon, liver, spleen, pancreas and |
| is hatha yoga, which concentrates on a series of | | | | kidneys. |
| poses, or asanas, designed to increase flexibility, boost | | | | All yoga asanas should initially be performed under the |
| energy levels, improve balance and tone muscles. | | | | supervision of a qualified professional, but twists have |
| In this form of yoga, the body is seen as an energy | | | | particular potential for injury so great care should be |
| system, divided into areas or chakras. Each asana | | | | taken. When performing a twist you should always |
| focuses on increasing energy flow to a particular | | | | lead with the belly or torso, and never the head. The |
| chakra to stimulate organ function, enhance blood flow, | | | | head should be the last part of the body to twist. |
| and work specific muscles to generally improve your | | | | You should be particularly careful about performing |
| wellbeing in that chakra. | | | | asana twists if you are pregnant, and if you do not |
| There are a huge variety of asanas and each person | | | | want to avoid doing them altogether, you should |
| requires a tailored program of poses to address their | | | | always perform open twists. These are asanas that |
| particular aims or health concerns. Asanas are divided | | | | involve keeping the abdominal muscles soft and not |
| into broad categories with certain properties. One of | | | | contracting them as you would in a closed twist. Other |
| the major categories is asana twists which are | | | | people that should only attempt an open twist with a |
| designed to extend and open the spinal channel, tone | | | | relaxed belly area are hernia sufferers, menstruating |
| the abdominal muscles and untwist the mind. | | | | women, and anybody with detached retina or |
| The aim of most asana twists is to bring the shoulders | | | | glaucoma. |
| to a right angle with the hips. The pose will be held for | | | | Some people should avoid asana twists altogether. |
| between thirty seconds and a minute and with each | | | | They are not recommended for people with high blood |
| outward breath we should aim to twist a little further | | | | pressure or those prone to migraine headaches as the |
| towards our goal. Asana twists can be performed | | | | restriction of the blood vessels during a twist can |
| standing or sitting. | | | | trigger an attack. |
| One of the most popular asana twists is the spinal | | | | Back problems such as lumbago, slipped discs or |
| twist pose or Matsyendrasana, named after Sri | | | | rheumatism can actually be treated by asana twists |
| Matsyendrasana who originally conceived hatha yoga. | | | | as they can relieve tension in the back muscles. |
| This pose realigns the spinal column, and is used to | | | | However, great care should be taken, and professional |
| treat diabetes, constipation, dyspepsia and urinary | | | | supervision is mandatory. |
| problems. The spinal twist asana increases energy | | | | |