A Few Basic Yoga Positions
Yoga is a natural and effective way to make a body limber by using the various yoga positions as stretching exercises. The posture incorporated in the practice of yoga is important to follow to attain optimum benefits from the exercises. The easiest poses to master are the standing ones. The veerasana pose is one where the practitioner spreads the legs in a wide stance and gradually extends the arms in an overhead arcing position. This is meant to replicate the stand of a warrior, which is where the name comes from.
The pose most often associated with yoga is the dhyana mudra or lotus position. This is a sitting pose and is often used for purposes of meditation. The legs are crossed in an over cross manner and the arms are extended to rest on the knees. The hands are open and face upward with the first finger and thumb joining to create an enclosed circle. The back, neck and head should be in a straight and erect position. This is to align the chakras or energy centers within the body to receive maximum benefit. In the practice of meditation, this position is often accompanied by the intoning of a specific sound.
One of the easiest poses for a beginner to use is the vrikshasana or tree pose. This is another standing position which has the body erect in an aligned manner. To begin, the feet are placed together flat on the ground. As the practitioner raises their arms in a straight line overhead, they also raise the heels of their feet so they are standing on the tips of their toes. They hold the position, than return to the beginning. When practicing yoga it is also important to learn the proper breathing used in the motions. The inhaling and exhaling of the breath draws and expels the energy from the body.
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