Yoga poses are gaining traction in mainstream culture. Yoga has sunk its talons of popularity in and has evolved into a workout aimed at the mind, body, and soul that everyone can participate in. Yoga's origins are that of a spiritual nature. For those who wish to find a release, or others who wish to challenge themselves on a mental and physical level, there are varying yoga poses with varying degrees of difficulty. The beginner volume covers 11 of the popular beginner yoga poses, the first volume of three covering the first three. Desiring to understand these poses is the first step. Taking what you know and applying it to the task is the next step, and first to bettering your core strength and overall flexibility. The functions and gains introduced from yoga directly translate over to any area of fitness, sports, or recreation. Your body will gain essential strengths for every day use, and your mind will have a chance to recharge.
Without further ado
Mountain Yoga Pose
1. Stand upright with the tips of your big toes touching and your heels apart. All of your toes should be in a straight line when looking down. Rock back and forth, side to side while spreading your toes throughout the movement. Continue doing this while slowly reducing the movement until you come to a standstill. Your weight should be balanced at this point throughout your entire foot.
2. Flex your thighs in order to raise your knee caps and lift your inner ankles to best support the arches in your feet. Bring your inner thighs closer together and flex your core slightly to bring your pelvis and belly button together.
3. Tighten your shoulder blades together followed by lowering them down to your lower back in a rotating motion. With your hands at your side and palms facing forward, your sternum should follow the motion and begin to raise.
4. Keeping your chin parallel to the floor, align your head over your pelvic area. Press your tongue down to the floor of your mouth and relax your eyes.
5. The mountain pose, or Tadasana, is the foundation to all other standing yoga poses. It is important to practice this pose. Remain in the pose from 30 seconds to a minute while breathing smoothly.
Bridge Yoga Pose
1. Lie on the floor and place a thickly folded towel beneath your neck if you require the support. Bend your knees and set your feet on the floor with your heels as as close to the glutes as you can.
2. Now with your hands and feet planted on the ground, lift your pelvis in the air. Try not to flex your butt if at all possible. Squeeze your hands together underneath your body and pull them towards your heels to properly position your shoulders on the ground.
3. Continue to raise your butt from the floor bringing your thighs parallel to the floor. Make sure your legs are viewed at a 90 degree angle at the side and push your knees away from you to help lift your tailbone. Tighten your core to decrease the distance between the pelvis and your naval.
4. Position your head flat to the floor by rotating it back and lifting your chin to the ceiling. Flex your shoulder blades towards your rear end to help raise your sternum. Shrug your shoulders as much as you can while trying to keep your hands extended away from the head.
5. Stay in the pose anywhere from 30 seconds to 1 minute. Release with an exhalation, rolling the spine slowly down onto the floor.
Downward Facing Dog Yoga Pose
1. Position yourself on your hands and knees. Place knees below the hips and your hands ahead of your shoulders. Spread your palms and place your index fingers roughly parallel to each other. Point your toes forward.
2. Exhale slowly while lifting the knees from the floor to a straight position without locking the knees. With your heels lifted slightly, stretch your butt towards the ceiling and flex your thighs towards the groin.
3. Stretch your heels bringing them further towards the floor and continue pushing your inner thighs backwards. Continue lengthening your legs without locking your knees.
4. Pushing with your index fingers to support your shoulders, bring your shoulder blades together and push them towards your lower back shortly after. This will help your arms properly extend and assist in positioning your head in between your arms. Do not let your head rest and swing down towards the floor.
5. Adho Mukha Svanasana is one of the yoga poses in the traditional Sun Salutation sequence. It's also an excellent yoga asana all on its own. Stay in this pose anywhere from 1 to 3 minutes. Then bend your knees to the floor with an exhalation and rest in Child's Pose.
Without further ado
Mountain Yoga Pose
1. Stand upright with the tips of your big toes touching and your heels apart. All of your toes should be in a straight line when looking down. Rock back and forth, side to side while spreading your toes throughout the movement. Continue doing this while slowly reducing the movement until you come to a standstill. Your weight should be balanced at this point throughout your entire foot.
2. Flex your thighs in order to raise your knee caps and lift your inner ankles to best support the arches in your feet. Bring your inner thighs closer together and flex your core slightly to bring your pelvis and belly button together.
3. Tighten your shoulder blades together followed by lowering them down to your lower back in a rotating motion. With your hands at your side and palms facing forward, your sternum should follow the motion and begin to raise.
4. Keeping your chin parallel to the floor, align your head over your pelvic area. Press your tongue down to the floor of your mouth and relax your eyes.
5. The mountain pose, or Tadasana, is the foundation to all other standing yoga poses. It is important to practice this pose. Remain in the pose from 30 seconds to a minute while breathing smoothly.
Bridge Yoga Pose
1. Lie on the floor and place a thickly folded towel beneath your neck if you require the support. Bend your knees and set your feet on the floor with your heels as as close to the glutes as you can.
2. Now with your hands and feet planted on the ground, lift your pelvis in the air. Try not to flex your butt if at all possible. Squeeze your hands together underneath your body and pull them towards your heels to properly position your shoulders on the ground.
3. Continue to raise your butt from the floor bringing your thighs parallel to the floor. Make sure your legs are viewed at a 90 degree angle at the side and push your knees away from you to help lift your tailbone. Tighten your core to decrease the distance between the pelvis and your naval.
4. Position your head flat to the floor by rotating it back and lifting your chin to the ceiling. Flex your shoulder blades towards your rear end to help raise your sternum. Shrug your shoulders as much as you can while trying to keep your hands extended away from the head.
5. Stay in the pose anywhere from 30 seconds to 1 minute. Release with an exhalation, rolling the spine slowly down onto the floor.
Downward Facing Dog Yoga Pose
1. Position yourself on your hands and knees. Place knees below the hips and your hands ahead of your shoulders. Spread your palms and place your index fingers roughly parallel to each other. Point your toes forward.
2. Exhale slowly while lifting the knees from the floor to a straight position without locking the knees. With your heels lifted slightly, stretch your butt towards the ceiling and flex your thighs towards the groin.
3. Stretch your heels bringing them further towards the floor and continue pushing your inner thighs backwards. Continue lengthening your legs without locking your knees.
4. Pushing with your index fingers to support your shoulders, bring your shoulder blades together and push them towards your lower back shortly after. This will help your arms properly extend and assist in positioning your head in between your arms. Do not let your head rest and swing down towards the floor.
5. Adho Mukha Svanasana is one of the yoga poses in the traditional Sun Salutation sequence. It's also an excellent yoga asana all on its own. Stay in this pose anywhere from 1 to 3 minutes. Then bend your knees to the floor with an exhalation and rest in Child's Pose.
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