ALL ABOUT YOGA                                                                                                                                                           WHAT IS YOGA?

       Yoga is a 5000 year old Indian body of knowledge. Though many think of yoga only as a physical exercise where people twist, turn, stretch, and breathe in the most complex ways, these are actually only the most superficial aspect of this profound science of unfolding the infinite potentials of the human mind and soul.

       Yoga is also  is an Indian physical, mental, and spiritual practice or discipline.

TYPES OF YOGA

Hatha( Ideal for: Beginners)

Vinyasa(Ideal for: Weight loss)

Iyengar(Ideal for: Anyone with neck or back problems)

Bikram(Ideal for: Building flexibility)

Kundalini(Ideal for: A more spiritual experience)

Ashtanga(Ideal for: Seasoned yoga practitioners)

YOGA FOR WEIGHT LOSS

Practicing yoga on a daily basis certainly helps you to loose weight

1. Setu Bandh (Bridge Pose):

lie down on your back and bend your knees in such a way that your feet rests on the floor. Now the distance between your feet & buttocks should be the same as your hands. Now, try to lift your body in the upward direction. Try doing this 5-10 times & then release. This asana gives a good massage to your thighs & lower back.

2. Dhanurasana:

 lie down on the floor with your belly touching the ground. Keep your hands besides your chest. Now take a deep breath and lift your legs & thighs up. At the same time, you have to try to catch your legs with your hands. Remain in this position for 30 seconds & release

 3. Nauka Chalan (Boat Pose):

you have to sit down in a straight yet comfortable position. Spread your legs straight in front of you. Your legs need to be joined to each other. Do not bend your knees. Place your hands besides your body. Now try to move your hands forward & backward. Also, move your body in the same manner as you move your hands. They should move as if you are riding a boat. Do it 10 times in clockwise position & 10 times in anti-clockwise position. Release.

4. Pavanmuktasana (Wind-releasing Pose):

Lie down on your back in straight position. Now lift up your left leg & bend it from the knee. Now, try to press your left leg towards your stomach. Try to touch your chin to your knee. For this, you will have to lift up your head a little. Try doing the same with right leg as well. Once you successfully do this, try doing the same movement with both the legs at the same time. This gives a good stretch to your stomach & helps in reducing unnecessary fats.

5. Vakrasana:

you have to sit in a comfortable cross-legged position. Now, keep your right hand on your left knee. Try to twist your body in the left direction. Do not forget to keep your posture straight. Try doing this in the right direction too.

6. Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose):

you have to position yourself into a curved pose which resembles a snake. Sleep on the ground in such a way that your forehead touches the ground. Now place your palms under your shoulders in a manner that it gets tucked close to your body. Stretch your legs in a way that the top of your feet presses down into the mat. Now inhale & slowly press your hands to stretch your arms, sending your chest upwards. This pose looks like a snake & hence it is called the cobra pose or the snake pose.

7. Trikonasana:

Stand straight, separate your feet wide apart. Now turn your right foot out to 90 degrees & left foot out to 15 degrees. Ensure that you body’s weight is balanced equally on both feet. Now bend your body to the right side, downward from the hips. Make sure that you keep your waist straight, thus allowing your left hand to come up in the air and your right hand comes down and touches the ground.  Try to keep both the arms in a straight line. Repeat on the other side. Trikonasana stretches the sides of your body. It tones your arms & thighs. It also improves the flexibility of your body.

8. Padahastasana:

Stand straight with your feet touching each other. Now exhale and bend downwards from your hips to touch your feet with your fingers. Keep your arms stretched in the whole process. Now slowly rise upwards and go back to the first position.

9. Sarvangasana:

This is also known as shoulder stand. Here, you have to first lie on a mat & rest your back on the floor. Then you have to try lifting your legs in the upward direction. You can even take the support of your hands for the same. Try to rest your hands on your back so that they can help you remain steady in the position. Now, once your legs are up in the air, try to bring them in a straight alignment with your body & stretch it as much as you can. Stay in this position for 30 seconds & then release.

10. Halasana:

When you are steady in the Sarvangasana pose, try and bring your legs downwards from over your head. Again here, rest the palm of your hands on your back in order to support your position.

11. Tadasana(Mountain Pose):

This is popularly known as the mountain pose. Here you have to stand straight on a mat. Now, you have to put your hands up & stretch it as much as you can. Try to keep your hands straight. This gives a good massage to your hands, back, spine and the whole body. This is the most recommended asana for increasing height as well

12. Warrior Pose:

you need to stand straight and then move your feet about 4 inches apart from each other. Raise your arms up in the air & stretch them. Now turn your right leg to 90 degrees on the right side & accordingly turn your left leg in the same direction & stretch it. Keep your back straight. Look upwards towards your hands facing the sky. Repeat this asana 10 times daily. It is an effective weight loss technique.

********These asanas are best for loosing weight 

YOGA FOR GLOWING SKIN

Control your breathing through counts that will rejuvenate your mind and that is what makes this pose of yoga for beautiful skin so popular.

 Breathing exercise:

• Sit on the floor with legs crossed.
• Close your eyes, relax and breathe normally.
• Now breathe in deeply through both nostrils with the count of 10.
• Hold your breath, again by counting 10.
• Count another 10 to release the breath.
• Practice this breathing technique for 5-10 minutes

Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation):

The mother of all yoga asanas. Surya Namaskar involves 12 postures. (Link back to surya namaskar)
This yoga poses de-stresses, removes toxins and is a great relaxation exercise. So you can obviously expect your skin to glow if you practice this regularly.

Shavasana (Corpse pose):

• Lie down straight on the floor with your eyes closed.
• Relax thoroughly and throw out all negative thoughts and tension, be it your office pressure or any disturbance in your family. Think good and positive.
• Now, stand up straight and firm with your legs apart. Cover your face with your hands and take 10 quick breaths.
• Rub the skin on your eyes, forehead and face. Again take 10 quick breaths. Then rub entire face with your fingers. Breathe properly at the count of 10.

***************sarvangasana and halasana are also good for glowing skin

USEFUL LINKS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lM6Yu1Q6u8k

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdhvroiGYME

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9dmMGqzOho