STANDING POSITION IN YOGA

Articles In This Section:

· BASICS OF ASANAS

· SETTING A TIME FOR YOGA

· %DEATH POSE IN YOGA

· RAISED LEGS POSTURE IN YOGA

· SIMPLE POSE IN YOGA

· PERFECT POSE IN YOGA

· BUDDHA POSE IN YOGA

· DIFFICULT POSTURES IN YOGA

· REVERSE POSTURE IN YOGA

· SUPINE POSE IN YOGA

· SHOULDER STAND IN YOGA

· ENTIRE BODY STRETCH IN YOGA

· STANDING POSITION IN YOGA

· STOMACH LIFT IN YOGA

· ABDOMINAL EXERCISE IN YOGA

· ARDJA-MATSYENDRASANA POSE IN YOGA

· TWISTING POSTURE POSE IN YOGA

· BOIV POSTURE IN YOGA

· COBRA POSE IN YOGA

· POSTERIOR STRETCH IN YOGA

· PLOUGH POSE IN YOGA

· HALASANA POSE IN YOGA

· HEADSTAND FOR YOGA GETTING READY

· NEXT STEP IN THE HEADSTAND POSE FOR YOGA

· HEADSTAND POSE FOR YOGA

· FINAL STEP FOR THE HEADSTAND POSE IN YOGA

13. Padhastrasana, or Contraction in a Standing Position:

Method: Stand erect with the legs close together. Inhale and exhale rhythmically a number of times. Finally exhale fully, and while doing this and keeping the knees stiff, bend the body until your hands reach down to your toes and your nose touches your knees. This will be difficult at first, but with patience you will find yourself able literally to bury your face between your knees and place the palms of your hands flat on the floor. Retain this bent position for five seconds, then return to the erect posture, inhaling as you straighten out. Relax. Slowly increase the time for holding to thirty seconds. Do only once.

Therapeutic Value: This is a fine slimming exercise, excellent for the waistline. It relieves constipation and loosens the muscles. Superficially it has been adapted to Western exercise, but its true value lies not in automatic repetition: it should be done only once, very slowly and dynamically, with the maximum stretch possible. It strengthens the abdominal organs, relieving dyspepsia. Its toning effect on the legs and back is excellent insurance against sciatica.