Every few years our body gifts us with a new set of bones. But unless we take proper care of them (through exercise and/or yoga), we will have a weak and creaky support structure, which will let us down as we age. Life is not just about living, but also understanding our body to the fullest. It is very important to keep our bones always challenged, to help them grow in strength.
For this purpose, let us look at some simple asanas that we can practice everyday:
Utthita Trikonasana Pose
Keep your feet about three to four feet apart. Then raise your arms parallel to the floor and reach them actively out to the sides, shoulder blades wide, and palms down. Next, turn your left foot in slightly to the right, and your right foot out to the right 90 degrees. Align the right heel with the left heel. Firm up your thighs and turn your right thigh outward, so that the centre of the right knee cap is in line with the centre of the right ankle. Exhale and extend your torso to the right, directly over the plane of the right leg, bending from the hip joint – not the waist. Anchor this movement by strengthening the left leg and pressing the outer heel firmly to the floor. Rotate the torso to the left, keeping the two sides equally long. Let the left hip come slightly forward, and lengthen the tailbone towards the back heel. Rest your right hand on your shin, ankle or the floor outside your right foot—whatever is possible—without distorting the sides of the torso. Stretch your left arm towards the ceiling, in line with the tops of your shoulders. Stay in this pose for about thirty seconds. Inhale to come up, strongly pressing the back of the heel into the floor, and reaching the top arm towards the ceiling. ‘Reverse the feet’, and repeat for the same length of time.
Benefits
This Asana is useful for people suffering from back problems, as it targets the core muscles. It will also boost blood circulation to the tissues and muscles throughout the body. Acts as a therapeutic for stress, infertility, neck pain – and symptoms of menopause.
Yastikasna Pose
Lie on your back and inhale deeply, stretching your hands above your head, and stretching your toes out fully - as if someone is pulling you at both ends. Now exhale and relax, before starting the next stretch.
This Asana fuels you with joy and vigour, and works as an anti-depressant too. It can be performed early in the morning. It also helps take care of weight loss and age-related bone shrinkage.
Manibandha Pose
You need to sit up straight and hold out your right hand. Slowly, clench your fist and then open it. Do this at least 4 times.
Next, slowly rotate the wrist in an anti-clockwise direction, 4 times; repeat the rotation in the clockwise direction. Now repeat the exercise with the left hand. The hand should be held out straight, without folding at the elbows.
Benefits
This Asana helps to strengthen the entire hand, and is extremely therapeutic for problems that may arise from the overuse of hands. This practice can easily be done several times during the day. It relaxes the hand muscles. υ
Author, Tarot Reader
Read More...