November 2009

Padangusthasana (Big Toe Pose)

Submitted by mikebann on Thu, 11/12/2009 - 13:56
in

Benefits: Stretches and strengthens hamstrings. Very important for opening other parts of the body as through body parts that are interconnected tight hamstrings can play a part in other issues such as lower back issues.

Step by Step

1)Stand in mountain pose (tadasana) with your feet hip width apart. Hip width to me means the middle of your feet are underneath your hip joints. I find most people try to put thier feet outside the hips.

Garudasana (Eagle Pose)

Submitted by mikebann on Thu, 11/12/2009 - 11:07
in

(gah-rue-DAHS-anna)

Garuda = the mythic "king of the birds," the vehicle of Vishnu. The word is usually rendered into English as "eagle," though according to one dictionary the name literally means "devourer," because Garuda was originally identified with the "all-consuming fire of the sun’s rays."

Benefits: Strength, flexibility, and endurance, and unwavering concentration. This is great for balance and opening the upper back.

Step by Step

1)Stand in Tadasana. Bend your knees slightly and cross your left leg over your right. Wrap your left foot around your right calf muscle.

Dolphin Pose (Adho Mukha Svanasana variation)

Submitted by mikebann on Thu, 11/12/2009 - 10:04
in

Benefits: Opens the upper back and strengthens the core. A lot of life styles in the modern world tighten the upper back especially prolonged computer use. This is a great one to open up those problem areas.

Step by Step

1)Come onto the floor on your hands and knees. Exhale, Set your knees directly below your hips and your forearms on the floor with your shoulders directly above your wrists. Firmly press your palms together and your forearms into the floor.

Tadasana (Mountain Pose)

Submitted by mikebann on Wed, 11/11/2009 - 19:32
in

(tah-DAHS-anna)
tada = mountain

Benefits: creates balance and harmony in the body and inner awareness. Some teachers have described it as being "equal standing pose".

Step by Step

1) Stand with the big toes together and the heals slightly apart. Lift your toes up, spread them out and let them fall back to the ground. Strengthen your ankles. Be sure not to lock your knees. Your legs should be strong but not firm.

2) Relax your buttox and allow your pelvis to float. Engage your core strength and feel your lower back to extend.

Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon Pose)

Submitted by mikebann on Wed, 11/11/2009 - 18:18
in

The moon is a powerful symbol in our life, for our world and in yoga. Hatha is also translated as ha meaning "sun" and tha meaning "moon". The sun and the moon are the solar and lunar energies of our body. The polar energies of our body.

(are-dah chan-DRAHS-anna)
ardha = half
candra = glittering, shining, having the brilliancy or hue of light (said of the gods); usually translated as "moon"

Benefits: creates balance strengthens legs and ankles and makes you feel better.

Step by Step

Start in tadasana (mountain pose)

About Us

This site is dedicated to yoga as a philosophy, practice and lifestyle. It is a vehicle for the modern yogi/yogini to express thier views on current yoga trends and providing information on the traditions that it comes from. It is also a resource for the elements that make yoga what it is today.

Asana

Asana (Sanskrit आसन ("Asanam"-आसनम् or आसनंis the correct Sanskrit-संस्कृतम् word, "आसन" is because of the influence of other languages like English and Hindi.)sitting down < आस to sit down is a body position, typically associated with the practice of Yoga, intended primarily to restore and maintain a practitioner's well-being, improve the body's flexibility and vitality, and promote the ability to remain in seated meditation for extended periods. These are widely known as Yoga postures or Yoga positions, which is currently practiced for exercise and as alternate medicine.

Pranayama

Pranayama (Sanskrit: प्राणायाम prāṇāyāma) is a Sanskrit word meaning "restraint of the prana or breath". The word is composed of two Sanskrit words, Prāna, life force, or vital energy, particularly, the breath, and "āyāma", to suspend or restrain. It is often translated as control of the life force (prana). When used as a technical term in yoga, it is often translated more specifically as "breath control". Literal translations include A. A. Macdonell's "suspension of breath" and I. K. Taimni's "regulation of breath".

Pranayama (Devanagari: प्राणायाम, prāṇāyāma) is a Sanskrit compound.

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