Yoga looks deceptively simple due to its slow, gliding movements and moments of stillness. However, don’t be fooled! Almost all yoga exercises requires precise movements, good balance, flexibility and strength. A good yoga workout will leave you sweating and nursing sore muscles! If you can tough through weekly yoga sessions, the benefits are endless. You’ll become less stressed, gain a greater sense of how different parts of your body function together, improve your posture and learn to love your body. So join a yoga class or find a quiet place to try these cool yoga poses!

 

Strike A Pose!

 

1. Tree Pose (Vriksasana)

Don’t go into this pose feeling too overconfident! This exercise takes a lot of leg muscle and balance to be able to hold for more than a few seconds. Once you’re able to hold this elegant poise, you’ll gain more self-esteem and confidence, have stronger hip and leg bones as well as toning your leg muscle up to your butt. You’ll be able to stand as tall and strong as a real tree.

 

 

2. Reverse Warrior (Viparita Virabhadrasana)

Like the principles of a warrior, this pose teaches strength, stability, and endurance. The upward sweep of the stretch strengthens the arms, shoulders, back, legs and ankles and it also energizes the body. Mentally, this pose improves focus and concentration as well as stability. When you’ve mastered this pose, you’ll be as strong and balanced as a true warrior.

 

 

3. Camel Pose (Ustrasana)

Camels themselves may seem like unwieldy and clumsy animals but you should remember that they can survive for months without water in the desert. The camel pose stretches the entire body and mastering it will lend you some of the hardy animal’s persistence. Because the pose opens up the chest, you’ll be able to breathe better. Your arms, legs and thighs will become strong and enduring while your posture and abdominal region will also become better and better.

 

 

4. Standing Half-Forward Bend (Ardha Uttanasana)

This is a great gateway stretch as it warms up and prepares your body for other forward bends. If you are persistent with this move, your flexibility will improve as well as the muscle tone for your legs, thighs and core.

 

 

5. Feathered Peacock Pose (Pincha Mayurasana) Headstand (Sirsasana)

The peacock is a flashy animal and loves to unfurl his colorful wings. While you can’t do the same, you can show off your impeccable abdominal fortitude. Along the way, your arms, legs, back and balance will be strengthened by this formidable pose. The headstand is a similar pose and it also strengthens the arms, shoulders and core. It can also relieve the effects of asthma and insomnia as well as reverse the signs of aging!

 

 

6. Warrior II Pose (Virabhadrasana II)

This pose is a continuation from the Warrior I pose and it is just as beneficial! It opens up the chest and lungs, improving respiration and blood circulation and increases focus and balance (two essential qualities for a warrior). This pose can ease backaches and it also proves to be therapeutic towards flat feet and osteoporosis.

 

 

7. Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)

Have you ever seen a dog arch its spine upwards after a nice, long nap? Well, believe or not, dogs do this for a reason. This challenging stretch helps relieve tension from the spine for both dogs and humans. It even helps with digestion and circulation besides strengthening the hands, feet and core. If you do this enough, perhaps you’ll be able to keep up with your energetic dog buddy, bounding through fields of flowers without a care and eating everything in sight.

 

 

8. Standing Crescent Pose (Indudasalana)

If this sleepy cat can do this simple stretch, then so can you! This is another gateway stretch that warms up your shoulders and hips. Because the pose forces you to stretch your entire side, it challenges and enhances the balance through your legs and feet. If you’re particularly frisky, you can sing “I’m a little teapot…”

 

 

9. Child’s Pose (Balasana)

You probably don’t remember this position but as a baby, this was usually how you slept. In this pose, you feel the most secure with all of your internal organs protected by your ribs and legs. Incorporating the child’s pose into your exercise routine will relieve some of your stress and relax your spine and shoulders. You’ll also be able to feel some of the safety you felt as a child and thus calm your mind.

 

 

Which pose will you try?

 

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