| Everyone has heard of posture these days, however | | | | course lowered so they are relaxed away from the |
| maybe some are not so aware whether they have | | | | ears. When you find this comfortable stable position, |
| good posture or how to correct it. This is where yoga | | | | which takes just a few seconds preparation time, you |
| can help you to become more aware of your posture | | | | can sit for longer periods of time for meditation, |
| both in your daily life and in your yoga practice. | | | | chanting and pranayama. |
| I am going to share a few simple pointers that I hope | | | | For forward bends, Paschitmottasana the same |
| will benefit you, your body and life. | | | | principle applies for removing the flesh from your |
| Through Yoga you learn how to hold yourself | | | | buttocks so that the sitting bones are exposed and the |
| correctly. You will discover how standing properly can | | | | pelvis tilts forward slightly so that you can start to |
| make you look taller and slimmer. Yoga postures like | | | | bend from the hips and keep your heart open and |
| the Tree, Vrksasana and Mountain, Tadasana promote | | | | shoulders back and relaxed as you move into the |
| balance and you require awareness and strength to | | | | posture. |
| hold the pose and this will give you better posture | | | | Be aware of your shoulders, the idea is to draw the |
| straight away. | | | | shoulder back and down, so when in a lunge posture, |
| So let's look at some key tips to help you sit or stand | | | | you can come up onto your finger tips, which opens |
| correctly that you can use in your yoga practice as | | | | the heart are and then draw the shoulders back. |
| well as everyday life. | | | | When in any postures when you are raising your arms, |
| Let start with the feet, try to ground the energy | | | | try to draw the shoulders down and back even |
| downwards and spread every toe, so that the big toe | | | | thought the arms are raised. The tendency for these is |
| and the little toe are evenly balanced into the ground. | | | | to raise the arms and the shoulders, you will work the |
| Drawing upward through the both legs, which are both | | | | shoulders more by drawing then back into a natural |
| straight. Then draw your core in, this means standing | | | | alignment. |
| tall through your abdomen and tuck your tailbone under | | | | In downward facing dog, Adho Mukha Svanasana, you |
| slightly so that your back is in its natural alignment. | | | | use every part of your palm and fingers and thumb to |
| Then bring your shoulders back slightly and open your | | | | ground the hands, pushing away from the wrists up |
| chest, whilst the arms loosely hang by your sides. | | | | through the arms you rotate your shoulders outwards |
| Finally lengthen your neck and imagine a piece of string | | | | and away from the ears. Then relax your neck and |
| coming from the top of your head and being pulled up. | | | | head as you draw the abdomen in at your core |
| These small adjustments mean you are standing tall | | | | creating a neutral spine. Then those sitting bones you |
| and in a natural alignment. You can observe any one | | | | spread then high and open so the hips are high and the |
| of these adjustments in daily life or when standing in | | | | tailbone tucks under slightly, then finally the backs of |
| Mountain Posture. | | | | the legs are being eased back so that the heels come |
| For sitting postures, like cross-legged, Sukhasana, | | | | towards the ground. |
| Siddhasana, Padmasana it is essential your sitting | | | | Little steps make the perfect posture, however when |
| position is comfortable. It is always a good idea to | | | | you are aware you do all of these things quite naturally |
| have the hips higher than the knees so I find sitting on | | | | and apply any of them to any posture. |
| a cushion or block, brings the knees below the hips so | | | | You can also bring this into your daily life, for example |
| the back becomes more upright and tall from the | | | | when you are seated at your desk for example, |
| pelvis area and puts less strain is on the knees. When I | | | | remove the flesh from your buttocks, exposing your |
| sit on my cushion I remove the flesh from my buttocks | | | | sitting bones and open your heart area and draw the |
| so that my sitting bones are open and this tilts the | | | | shoulders back and bring the chin back slightly so the |
| pelvis forward slightly, bringing the back into its natural | | | | jaw is relaxed. When you are standing waiting for a |
| alignment or curve from the base. I then rise from my | | | | train or bus, stand in tadasana the mountain pose. |
| core, my abdomen and I open my chest lifting the | | | | So hope you are sitting correctly and use these tips to |
| "heart" i.e opening the heart chakra, the anahata | | | | stand tall and in alignment. |
| chakra, by easing the shoulders back slightly and of | | | | |