| Yoga is an ancient art, first practiced in India and then | | | | straight. If you have tendency to slouch you may feel |
| making its way to the rest of the world. Traditionally | | | | some discomfort initially but this will go away with time. |
| yoga has been about achieving a balance between | | | | The second of the basic yoga poses for beginners is |
| the tangible and the spiritual planes. That's why it | | | | the 'Staff Pose' and can be thought of as a seated |
| incorporates aspects of physical exercise, meditation | | | | version of the previous posture. You start this pose by |
| and enlightenment techniques. In the Western world at | | | | sitting, preferably on an exercise mat so you minimize |
| lot of emphasis tends to be placed on the asanas or | | | | any potential discomfort. Keep your legs straight in |
| postures themselves. However, more and more | | | | front of you and again tense your thigh muscles and |
| practitioners are discovering the benefits of relaxation | | | | flex your feet. This might result in your heels leaving |
| techniques as well and are starting to understand the | | | | the floor but that's okay. While doing this make sure to |
| reasons behind the poses. A good beginners yoga | | | | keep your spine erect. The main purposes of this pose |
| DVD should explain all this to the novice. | | | | are to align the body and strengthen the legs. |
| Every type of yoga has its own distinct set of poses, | | | | While not technically one of the yoga poses for |
| each stage having a greater level of difficulty. There | | | | beginners, there is a third pose, known as the 'Corpse |
| are a few basic yoga poses for beginners though and | | | | Pose', which any student of yoga must know. Granted, |
| you must ensure that you are familiar with them. | | | | the name doesn't sound particularly appealing but if |
| These are what form the foundation for more | | | | done right this will be one of the most relaxing |
| advanced postures so you need to practice and be | | | | experiences of your life. The posture involves simply |
| certain that you can do them properly. If you can't, you | | | | lying on your back with your arms and legs on either |
| will either not be able to get into the more complex | | | | side, palms up, and your eyes closed. This pose is |
| poses properly or you will most likely over stretch | | | | typically used as a cool down at the end of a yoga |
| yourself and possibly injure your muscles and or body. | | | | routine or as an integral part of meditation exercises |
| The only way to really learn these postures is through | | | | and usually involves deep breathing. |
| an experienced instructor but let's try to go through a | | | | Yoga is a great discipline to get into for people of all |
| description. | | | | ages. There are a huge number of benefits and you |
| There are two main yoga postures for beginners that | | | | can go at your own pace. Yoga poses for beginners |
| you will find on the best beginners yoga DVDs and | | | | are not particularly difficult, although you may be a little |
| they serve to introduce one to both the standing and | | | | uncomfortable if you muscles aren't used to being |
| the seated poses. The first is referred to as the | | | | stretched. One thing to remember is that there are a |
| 'Mountain Pose'. Standing yoga poses are meant to | | | | lot of very fine points to doing the beginners yoga |
| help with strength and balance, and also to aid in | | | | poses right. The best beginners' yoga DVDs will |
| feeling more grounded. What can be more grounded | | | | demonstrate to you what these fine points look and |
| than a mountain? You start off with your feet together | | | | feel like. As with any form of exercise, it's important |
| and your big toes touching each other. It is important | | | | that you know your limits and don't try to overdo it. |
| that your weight is distributed evenly or you won't gain | | | | Just ease yourself into the positions slowly and you'll |
| the full benefits of improved posture and stronger thigh | | | | find that you'll be ready to move on to the more |
| muscles. Tense your thighs so that your kneecaps are | | | | complex postures in no time. |
| raised and keep your body fully erect with your spine | | | | |