Best Morning Yoga for Weight Loss

The Lion Pose, or Roaring Lion Pose (whose original Indian name is Simhasana) in yoga is suitable for people of all ages, as it is relatively easy to perform. ‘Simha’ in Sanskrit means, Lion, and this posture gets its name because the face of the person performing it resembles the face of a Roaring Lion (Simha Mudra), with open mouth and extended tongue. Lion Pose is considered a base pose as lion pose variations can be derived from this pose.

In Four Limbed Staff Pose or Chaturanga Dandasana in Sanskrit (‘Chatur’ means ‘four limbs’, ‘Danda’ means ‘staff of support’ and ‘Asana’, means ‘posture’), staff is referred to as the spinal cord, which is the main support system of the body. This pose is one of the steps in the group of 12 yoga poses in Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation) and is considered a powerful strength builder in the arms and abs. It also helps boost energy in the body and hence can be included in flow yoga sequences.

Half Lord of the Fishes Pose or Ardha Matsyendrasana, is named after the great yogi Matsyendranath who founded Hatha Yoga. The English name, Half Lord of the Fishes Pose, comes from the Sanskrit words 'ardha' = 'half', 'matsya' = 'fish', 'eendra' = 'king'. This yoga pose has other variations and can be referred to as Half Spinal Twist Pose or Vakrasana (which means twist).

This yoga pose usually appears as a seated spinal twist with many variations and is one of the twelve basic yoga poses (asanas) in many systems of Hatha Yoga. In this yoga pose the spine gets its maximum twist at the upper back with the thighs placed over each other and with the support of the arms the torso gets its twist.

Complete Boat Pose or Paripurna Navasana in Sanskrit ('Paripurna’ meaning ‘entire or full’, ‘Nava’ meaning ‘boat’, and 'asana' means 'pose' or 'posture') is a yoga posture that strengthens the core muscles, including the abs, back, and hip flexors. The Full Boat Pose is a popular pose used to engage the core muscles by strengthening the abdominals and muscles of the pelvis and lower back. While the Full Boat Pose is a difficult yoga pose to perform for many, the benefits of the pose are long-lasting. There are several modifications and variations that can help you work up to the full pose over time.

Crescent Low Lunge Pose or Anjaneyasana gets its name after Lord Hanuman's mother named Anjani. Another name for Hanuman in the Hindu culture is ‘Anjaneya’. Lord Hanuman is referred to as the mighty God with boundless power and strength, and this pose brings in the same kind of power and strength when practiced the right way. This standing hip opener and heart opener pose is sometimes also known as the Crescent Moon Pose because of how the body looks.

Anjaneyasana is performed by stretching one leg behind and placing the other one in front with the knee bent and the foot on the floor. The arms are raised up with palms joined in Namaste and expanding the chest and stretching the neck.

Anjaneyasana is a deep stretch for the hip flexors and quadriceps. It can also be a little bit of a backbend if you want it to be. Crescent Low Lunge Pose is also called Low Lunge Pose, it's the first and simple version of the Crescent High Lunge Pose. The low Lunge Pose is considered a base pose as low lunge pose variations can be derived from this pose. Low Lunge Pose helps boost energy in the body and hence can be included in flow yoga sequences.

Pyramid Pose, Intense Side Stretch Pose or Parsvottanasana in Sanskrit (‘Parsva’ means ‘Side’, ‘Ut’ means ‘intense’ and ‘tan’ means to ‘extend, stretch or lengthen’) is an intermediate-level standing posture that involves a deep forward fold that helps to stretch hip muscles and hamstrings and lengthen the spine.

Assuming Pyramid Pose requires aligning both the heels sidewise separating the legs and joining the hands in reverse prayer pose or simply placing them on the mat in one line with the leg that goes forward. This is followed by bending the torso so that the head touches the shin of the front leg.

Wide-Angle Seated Forward Bend Pose or Upavistha Konasana in Sanskrit is a seated forward bend that requires flexibility. The term comes from the Sanskrit "upavistha", meaning “seated” or “sitting,” "kona", meaning “angle,” and "asana", meaning pose or “posture”.

From a seated position, the legs are spread wide and the upper body folds forward. In addition to a range of physical benefits, this pose calms the mind and the nervous system.

The common English name for Upavistha Konasana is Wide-Angle Seated Forward Bend, but sometimes it is also referred to as simply Seated Angle Pose.