Yoga unites the body, mind, and spirit through yoga postures called asanas. Developed and practiced for centuries, each yoga position benefits a specific part of the body. Depending on the yoga position, you can improve flexibility, balance, and strength. By combining a variety of yoga poses into a single workout, you can achieve maximum fitness and health for you entire body, through flexible joints, toned muscles and increased strength. Your mind benefits from yoga just as much as your body. You’ll be able to focus, concentrate, and handle stress better.

Warm Ups and Cool Downs

Some of the first Ashtanga yoga poses that you will need to learn will be the positions that you will use at the beginning and end of your workout. Which warm-up positions you choose will depend on the other poses you plan to do during your workout. Warming up is important any time you work out, and yoga is no different. You want to make sure your muscles and joints are warmed up in order to prevent injury while doing yoga poses. At the end of your workout, it is also a good idea to do some finishing yoga poses. This will help to complete the work that you have done and help you to relax properly at the end of your workout.

Different Yoga Posing Positions

You can choose from a variety yoga poses to do during your workout. Some of these are done in a standing position, which can help to align your body properly as they promote strength and flexibility. Standing Hatha yoga poses really improve your posture. Seated positions are often used for the meditation portion of a yoga workout, as well as for therapeutic purposes. There are also twisted yoga poses that you can do. Not only will these gently stretch and strengthen your back, they also will massage the abdominal muscles and aid in digestion. Twisted yoga poses must be done slowly and fluidly. You may hurt yourself if you make quick, jerking movements.

There are several other types of yoga poses out there you can try. Seek help from a professional yoga instructor if you are just starting to learn yoga. Once you’ve got the basic concepts and yoga poses down, you can practice it at home any time you want.