| Yoga is an excellent component of any health and | | | | becomes upright. You need the muscles from your |
| fitness routine. It helps to reduce stress, aid mobility and | | | | back to do all the work so do not help with your hands. |
| exercise al parts of the body. And, you can use yoga | | | | Although predominantly making use of your back |
| in such a way as to target certain parts of the body | | | | muscles, this asana will help with developing better |
| including your stomach. | | | | muscle tone in your stomach. |
| There are numerous yoga positions which can be | | | | 3. The Bow |
| used to exercise your stomach muscles. Called | | | | This is a more advanced asana. The stomach |
| Asanas, these exercises come in varying degrees of | | | | exercise is similar in many ways to the Bhujangasan |
| difficulty. It is important to assess your skill and fitness | | | | asana, but is more difficult. It starts from the same |
| levels and chose Asanas which you are comfortable | | | | basic position - flat on your stomach - but now you |
| with. Start with one which seems easy and work up | | | | also curl your legs upwards in addition to lifting your |
| to the more complex over a period of time. Do not be | | | | upper body. In a perfect example the soles of your |
| led to take on more than you are comfortable with. Be | | | | feet come toward the back of your head forming a |
| sure to seek medical advice before undertaking any | | | | circle. Once you can, grab your ankles, pull with your |
| new course of exercise and make sure that you | | | | hands, push using your legs till only your stomach |
| warm up to avoid injury. | | | | touches the floor. Hold this for at least thirty seconds |
| Some of the Asanas to improve stomach tone; | | | | before releasing and returning to the starting position. |
| 1. Pavan-Muktasan | | | | 4. Paad-Pashchimottanasan |
| First lie on your back ideally on a yoga mat or towel to | | | | This asana is also more advanced. Start lying on your |
| protect your spine. When first starting yoga, this | | | | back, relaxed with your legs straight, arms extended |
| exercise can be completed one leg at a time. Bend | | | | over your head. Point your palms to the ceiling. Using |
| your knees to your chest so your thighs touch your | | | | only your stomach muscles sit up, keeping your back |
| abdomen. Hug your knees, using one hand to hold the | | | | straight and hands overhead. Your legs stay fixed to |
| other. Lift your head so that your nose touches your | | | | the floor throughout. Lean forward so your head is |
| knees then take a deep breath and hold this for thirty | | | | between your arms and grab your toes with both |
| seconds. Release your legs and slowly lower to the | | | | hands. Hold for 2 minutes before releasing and slowly |
| starting position. | | | | returning to your starting position using your stomach |
| 2. Bhujangasan | | | | muscles to lower yourself to the floor. |
| For this exercise, lie on the floor and roll onto your | | | | Yoga like every other form of exercise or wellness |
| stomach. Place your hands under each shoulder as if | | | | routine will be more effective when combined with a |
| to do a push up. Using only your back muscles, lift your | | | | balanced diet and healthy lifestyle. |
| upper torso from the ground so that your head | | | | |