Yoga Exercises and their Health Benefits

Asanas is a Sanskrit word for posture. There are about 84 yoga positions and each asana has a special name, a way of performing it and a special area of focus. Yoga asanas are done to promote physical and mental well being as well as good health. It enhances the functioning of your body’s organs, and also your psychological health. A yoga workout can help maintain the perfect balance of mind and body.

Some of the basic yoga exercises include:

• Surya Namaskar: It is a complete yoga posture with a set of different yoga postures. The meaning of the posture is ‘saluting the sun’. Before beginning any yoga workout, people generally start with the Sun Salutation. An energizing yoga posture, it also warms up the body and prepares it for further yoga exercises.


• Utthan Pada Asana: This is a Leg Lifting Posture, and in this pose the practitioner lifts his legs upwards. This posture strengthens the spinal cord and is good for the back.


• Paschimottanasana: In this Forward Bend posture, a person touches his toes, while stretching his back. It is good for the spine and improves overall flexibility.


• Bhujangasana: This means snake or serpent. Named after the king of snakes, Bhujangasana is known to improve the experience of child birth.


• Salabhasana: This is known as the Locust pose. It is just the opposite of cobra pose and is supposed to be good for stimulating the organs of the lower part of the body.


• Sarvangasana: Sarva is the word for all, while Anga means the body. This is a shoulder stand and is good for the whole body. The weight of the complete body rests on the shoulders, and so it is called Shoulder Stand.


• Matsyasana: Also known as the Fish posture, this is good for people with shoulder problems.


• Dhanurasana: This is the Bow posture and the body is bent like a bow. It is a good posture for strengthening the joints of the body.


• Halasana or the Plough pose: This is an extreme forward bending exercise. This posture is good for improving sexual prowess.


• Shavasana: This is a relaxation posture and is generally done at the end of a yoga workout. It relaxes the mind and the body.

Benefits of yoga exercises: Some of the benefits of yoga include –

• It improves flexibility and makes the body supple.


• Yoga exercises improve muscle tone and strength.


• Yoga exercises can calm the mind, and help relieve stress. When combined with meditation and pranayama or breath exercises, yoga makes for a complete workout for the mind, body and soul.