| I often wondered what the value of each type of | | | | yoga position helps train your mind to focus your |
| yoga position is, so I did some research to find out. All | | | | attention; if your attention if not focused, you will not be |
| yoga positions help to develop strength and flexibility. | | | | able to do the pose. |
| Yet the type of yoga position that you do also offers | | | | Twists |
| some very specific benefits. | | | | I love to do twists. Twists release tension in your spine |
| Standing Poses | | | | and increase shoulder and hip mobility. They also help |
| They are included in many poses and they help to align | | | | relieve backaches by stretching and opening up your |
| your feet and body. This type of yoga position is | | | | back muscles. I often experience tightness in my upper |
| especially useful in improving your posture. Standing | | | | back and twists help me loosen up this area. It is |
| poses strengthen your legs while simultaneously | | | | important to always do twists on both sides of your |
| increasing flexibility in your legs and hips. They add to | | | | body in order to ensure alignment and balance. |
| the mobility of your neck and shoulders and they | | | | Supine and Prone Poses |
| increase the flexibility in your pelvis and lower back. | | | | Supine poses are done on your back. They help |
| One of the most basic standing poses is Mountain | | | | stretch your abdominal muscles, they open your hips, |
| Pose. | | | | and increase your spinal mobility. They release tension |
| Seated Poses | | | | and strengthen your back, arms and legs. |
| These poses help increase flexibility in your hips and | | | | Prone poses are done facing the floor. They |
| lower back, while also strengthening your back. They | | | | strengthen your arms and back and open up your hips |
| add suppleness to your spine and elasticity to your | | | | and groin. They relieve tension and increase flexibility in |
| hips, knees, ankle and groin. They also encourage | | | | your spine. One of my favorite prone poses is |
| deeper breathing, which contributes to you feeling calm | | | | Extended Seal because I find it very relaxing and it |
| and peaceful. | | | | helps stretch out my shoulders and upper back. |
| Forward Bends | | | | Inversions |
| This type of yoga position helps stretch your lower | | | | This type of yoga position develops strength and |
| back and hamstrings. Forward bends also release | | | | stamina, particularly in your upper body. It also |
| tension in your back, neck, shoulders, and increase the | | | | increases circulation because since your legs are |
| flexibility in your spine. They often promote a sense of | | | | higher than your heart, it reverses the normal flow of |
| calmness. I find forward bends particularly challenging | | | | blood. Inversions help pull fluid out of your feet and legs, |
| since I have a considerable amount of stiffness in my | | | | so they are great to do after you have been standing |
| neck due to an old gymnastics injury. This is the type | | | | up for a long time. Advanced inversion poses require a |
| of yoga position where I often use a prop such as a | | | | great deal of strength and alignment and should only |
| strap or block. | | | | be learned under the guidance of a certified teacher. |
| Back Bends | | | | People with glaucoma, pregnant women and those |
| They open your chest, rib cage, and hips. They | | | | who are menstruating should avoid inversion poses. |
| strengthen your arms and shoulders, while | | | | Relaxation Poses |
| simultaneously increasing flexibility in your shoulders. | | | | Relaxation poses are usually done at the end of a |
| They help relieve tension from the front of your body | | | | yoga practice. They calm your mind and body and |
| and hips and they also increase spinal stability. You | | | | encourage a deep feeling of relaxation. This type of |
| should always do back bends as a complement to | | | | yoga position is often one of the most challenging |
| forward bends in order to maintain balance in your | | | | poses to do, particularly for Westerners who often |
| body. | | | | have a difficult time letting go. One of the most |
| Balance | | | | well-known relaxation poses is Corpse Pose. |
| Although balance poses can be challenging, I find them | | | | There are hundreds of poses in yoga and they all |
| to be some of the most fun poses to do. They help | | | | provide wonderful benefits for your mind and body. By |
| you develop muscle tone and coordination and also | | | | understanding each type of yoga position, you can |
| strength and agility. They help improve your posture | | | | choose a well rounded practice with asanas from |
| because you really need to elongate your spine in | | | | each type or do those that meet your body's needs at |
| order to keep yourself from falling over. This type of | | | | any given time. |