Yog Exercises - Their Benefits

Yogasanasa - Yoga Exercises
Ardha-Matsyendrasan

Time: 2 minutes each side.
Method: Bend left knee, place left foot under right hip. Bend right knee, place right foot on left side of left knee. Hold left knee or right foot with the left hand - keep right knee on the left of left arm. Turn tunk to right, look back over right shoulder, right hand on ground or on waist as close to left thigh as possible.
Repeat with left knee bent and trunk turning to left.
Note: You may also hold hands through the gap below the raised knee.
Benefits: Increase the elasticity of the spine, and massage the abdomen and internal organs

Sarvangasan
Time: 2 minutes
Method:

• Lie on your back, arms alongside. Raise both legs together - taking support of hands on the hips and the elbows on the ground.
• Straighten the body - feet, knees, hips and back form one vertical column from the base of the neck to the tip of the toes, feet stretched, toes pointed, chin pressed against the chest.
• Normal breathing.
• Lie on your back, arms alongside.
• Raise both legs together - taking support of hands on the hips and the elbows on the ground.
• Straighten the body - feet, knees, hips and back form one vertical column from the base of the neck to the tip of the toes, feet stretched, toes pointed, chin pressed against the chest.
• Normal breathing.

Benefits: Promotes healthy secretion of the circulatory, respiratory, alimentary and genito-urinary systems. Keeps the spine flexible preventing the bones from early ossification. Supplies large quantity of blood to the spinal roots of the nerves, thereby giving them sufficient nourishment.

Halasan

Time: 2 minutes
Method:

• Lie on your back, arms alongside.
• Raise legs an in Sarvangasan (you may take help of hands on the hips), then lower them overhead, knees straight, ankles stretched, toes pointed and touching the ground.
• Arms stay on ground as in the beginning, palms on the ground.
• The posture resembles the shape of a plough

Benefits: Makes the spine flexible, creates energy, and blood of the muscles of the back. Aids the functioning of the thyroid and thymus glands thus helping retain the individual's youthful physical characteristics for a longer period.

Pavan-Muktasan

Time: 1/2 minute each leg
Method:

• Lie down on your back.
• Breath in.
• Then fold the left leg from the knees.
• Hold the fingers together and bring the folded leg to touch the stomach.
• Lift the head and touch the nose to the knee. The other leg remains straight. Hold the breath.
• Come to original position and leave the breath.
• Follow the same for the other leg.
• NOTE: This asan can also be done with both the knees folded.

Benefits: Removes gas from the abdomen and reduces abdominal fat. Increases the flexibility of the knees and hips.

Matsyasan

Time: 1/2 minute
Method:

• Sit with legs an in Padmasan - knees bent, feet on opposite thighs, heels towards the abdomen.
• Lie on your back. Placing hands near the head for support
• Lift your back above the ground, keep the top of your head on the ground over a padded surface, e.g., a towel.
• Keep your hands an your feet.
• Normal breathing.

Benefits: Makes the neck flexible and strong, increases the size of the rib cage, widens the windpipe and thus helps deep breathing. Relieves the neck after sarvasang

Bhujangasan

Time: 1/2 minute
Method:

• Lie on your stomach, forehead on the ground, hands under shoulders.
• Raise your upper body by the strength of the back muscles, head up.
• Don't take help of the hands, they may remain on the ground or held on the back over the hips.

Benefits: Helps in keeping the dorsal spine elastic and strong. Backache due to overstrain can be thus relieved. Helps considerably in reducing abdominal fat.

Dhanurasan

Time: 1/2 minute
Method:

• Lie on your stomach.
• Bend knees, hold the ankles.
• Pull your hands and push with your legs, knees together, till the trunk forms an arch with only the stomach on the ground.
• Look up.
• After releasing the posture lie for a while in Shavasan

Benefits: Reduces abdominal fat. The compressing of the spinal column, pressing the nerves with the scapulae (the winged bones at the back attached to the arms) minimizes blood circulation while in the asan. But when the pose is released a greater supply of blood is endured to those very regions increasing spinal flexibility and definitely raising the vitality.

Chakrasan

Time: 1/2 minute
Method:

• Lie on your back.
• Bend knees, place feet apart and close to hips, place hands overhead, palms besides ears and shoulders.
• Push with hands and, without moving feet, raise trunk as high as possible to curve the back into an arch.
• Look on the ground between the hands.

Benefits: Builds a flexible back, stimulates the nerves of the spine. One of the powerful back bending postures.

Bhadrasan

Time: 2 minutes
Method:

• Sit holding feet together, heels as close to body as possible
• Head up, chin down
• Normal breathing.

Benefits: Specially recommended for those suffering from urinary disorder. The pelvis, the abdomen and the back get stimulated through a plentiful supply of blood. Keeps the kidneys, the prostate and the bladder healthy.

Vajrasan

Time: 2 minutes
Method:

• Sit on your heels.
• Hands on knees, abdomen drawn in, chest up, back straight, shoulders squared, head erect.
• Normal breathing

Benefits: Aids digestion and helps cure sciatica.

Paad-Pashchimottana san

Time: 2 minutes
Method:

• Lie on your back, legs straight, arms overhead, hands together, palms facing up.
• Sit up, take hands overhead, back straight,
• Then bend forward to hold the big toes, head between arms and touching the knees

Benefits: Reduces abdominal fat. Removes wind from the intestines and increases appetite.