Yoga is a practice of meditation and asceticism, which has ancient oriental origins and is known for its benefits to the mind, body, and spirit. This discipline has spread more and more in the West and has its fulcrum in the positions to be maintained and associated with correct breathing.
Among the Yoga positions here are the eight best-known Asanas. The Yoga positions are also known as Asana. This Sanskrit term indicates the necessity of maintaining for a specific time and observing the associated proper breathing techniques that favour meditation. Among the eight best-known Asanas are:
The Position Of The Locust Called Shalabhasana
The position takes its name because of the similarity with the posture taken by this insect. You have to lie on your stomach and lift your legs back. To give the right push, which must never be too sudden, you must place your arms below the abdomen and, if you can, join them for support and give a centre of gravity to the weight when lifting the legs. The Shalabhasana is used to reinvigorate the entire musculoskeletal system by keeping the limbs in tension for a few minutes.
The Fish Posture Is Called Matsyasana
For the fish asana, you have to lie on your back and arch your back with the push of your arms. The legs can be crossed or left stretched out. To push your torso up, you must first lie on your side, place your arms behind your back, and then bring yourself to the prone position. You will need it to support the chest and the whole torso during the lifting. This Yoga position serves to promote flexibility of the back, stretch the muscles of the pelvis and, with breathing, relieve stress and anxiety.
Position Of The Child Called Balasana
The child’s position is carried out by kneeling and moving forward with the torso, while the heels touch the lower back and the hands rest on the ground. There is also the position known as “the happy child”, for which, instead, you have to lie on your back and bring your legs with your hands towards the abdomen. These are the Yoga positions recommended before a night’s rest because they help relaxation.
Position Of The Stretching Cat Called Marjariasana
The Asana position of the cat is carried out by getting on all fours with the palms of the hands completely adhering to the mat. It is necessary to arch the back while inhaling and bend it towards the floor while exhaling, while the gaze must be turned downwards and upwards.
It is the ideal Yoga position to release tension in the back, especially for those who work at the computer or drive for many hours. As it is easy to imagine, the position is very reminiscent of the cat in the act of stretching and getting rid of any tension.
Position Of The Candle Called Salamba Sarvangasana
Among the eight best-known Asanas, the candle undoubtedly indicated to oxygenate the whole lumbar part. There are two variants: the first is suitable for cervical problems and cannot overload the neck. You have to lie on your back, bend your legs and lift them, resting your pelvis on your hands behind your hips. The weight must fall entirely on the palms of the hands so that the body forms an obtuse angle.
The second version follows the same position as the first, with the difference that the hands rest on the back and the body, except the neck, is perfectly perpendicular to the floor. The elbows must be spread out on the mat to support the weight. The breath is held until the body returns to the initial prone position.
Position Of The Plow Called Halasana
The position of the plough can be considered an extension of that of the candle, as after having raised the torso and legs perpendicular to the floor, they must be lowered slowly towards the ground. It would help if you forced yourself to touch the base with your toes and hold the position for about 1 minute, holding your breath and stretching your arms forward while your hands close in a fist.
To return to the vertical position, lift your legs by bending them towards the abdomen while bringing your arms back to support your back. With the torso, check the spine, bringing it back to the floor slowly together with the legs, which must be spread apart like the arms. The Asana of the plough is used to relax both the muscles of the legs and those of the spine. It is also indicated for the massage exercised on the internal organs.
The Lotus Posture Is Called Padmasana
The yoga position of the lotus is among the best known and often represented as a symbol of this ascetic discipline. You have to sit up, crossing your legs to assume this position. First, the right leg is brought towards the left groin, placing the back of the foot on the thigh and vice versa and obtaining an intersection of the lower limbs. Those who try this position for the first time can do some preventive stretching exercises, also trying the “half lotus”, that is, bending towards the groin one leg at a time.
The position should be maintained for a few minutes, accompanied by slow and deep breathing. This is an asana that promotes the practice of meditation and the benefits for the body, including the recovery of an optimal posture and the toning of the muscles of the legs and the spine. This Yoga position is also linked to an improvement in both vascularizations, particularly in the pelvis area, and in the digestive process in the long term.
The Forward Sitting Posture Is Called Paschilmottasana
Also, in this case, you find yourself performing one of the best-known positions of Yoga, very simple to do. Sit on the mat, and before assuming the correct position of this Asana, try with one leg at a time stretching it in front of you, while the other must be bent inwards. Then lie forward with your torso, trying to grab the toe. You can now go back to sitting and extend both legs in front of you, then slowly bend your torso forward in a wallet. This position is part of the so-called “stretches” and is used to stretch the muscles of the legs, torso and arms.
