Different Kinds Of Yoga Poses And Their Benefits

Everyone in today's busy life schedule wants to indulge sometime for exercises. However, maintaining a daily routine becomes difficult as far as exercises are concerned. People start working on different types of exercises with a great enthusiasm but soon lose the interest. They believe that some exercises benefits in physical terms while the others in mental term.

Yoga, the ancient practice of integrating the mind, body and spirit through a series of postures, breathing work and meditation, is making its mark on Americans who are eager to gain its mind and body benefits.

Yoga will not only help in maintaining the physical essence of our body but would also keep us mentally strong. Yoga is a Sanskrit word meaning union or joining. Yoga exercises basically comprises of Asanas. By inculcating yoga in our daily regime, we can increase our resistance, improve health and develop our mental abilities. Although the yoga poses or asanas seems easy to perform, a careful approach is needed to get the best benefits.

The different kinds of Yoga Poses or asanas are:

Warm-up yoga exercises : A warm-up is highly essential before starting any kind of exercises and yoga is not an exception. Warm-up exercise helps our body to get prepare for more difficult poses. Warm-up yoga exercises include the workouts for body parts such as eye, neck and shoulders. Like every muscles in our body, eye muscle also needs some kind of exercises to stay healthy and strong. In yoga, movement of eyes in every direction helps to strengthen the eye muscles, improve eyesight and prevent eyestrain. Many people suffer from shoulder stiffness, tension, bad posture and headaches as they hold tension in their necks and shoulders. Yoga exercises can help in relieving the tension by increasing the flexibility and toning the muscles. Cat pose is one of the special warm-up yoga activities that help in initializing the movement and coordinating the movement and breath.

Ashtanga: This involves a fast-paced, flowing sequence of postures that gradually increase in difficulty.

Power yoga: Similar to ashtanga, with a fast pace. Power yoga is for those looking for a vigorous workout and body toning.

Relaxation and restorative poses : You should always perform relaxation and restorative poses at the end of each yoga session. They are meant for relaxing your body and mind. These poses allow the energy released by other poses to move freely throughout your body.

Anusara: Meaning literally "to step into the current of divine will," anusara is meant to promote awareness and well-being along with body alignment.

Swara: Sequences focus on observing the breath and proper breathing practices.

Finishing poses : Finishing poses are as important as warm-up poses. It is very much essential to perform the finishing poses before actually ending the course of yoga. Finishing poses helps in relaxing your body, mind and spirit. Corpse pose and final corpse are the two major finishing poses in yoga. One must not skip these poses before finishing the yoga session. It must be remembered that the output from yoga can only be achieved, if they are performed in a correct way and order. Eventually, you will start gaining the long-term benefits of yoga.

Credit : Dave Opton