Yoga For Anxiety And Stress

Sukhasana (Easy Pose) title comes from the Sanskrit word ‘Sukha’ meaning ‘Pleasure’. This pose is a meditative pose and is done with the crossing of the legs in the most simplest form unlike other meditative poses. This posture is excellent for meditation, pranayama and the beginning of a yoga class or at the end to bring the mind and breath under control. Sukhasana is considered a base pose as sukhasana variations can be derived from this pose.Sukhasana is considered a warm-up yoga pose to prepare the body for more intense yoga poses / yoga flows.

This name, Marjary and Bitila comes from Sanskrit script, where ‘marjari’ meaning ‘cat’ and ‘bitila’ meaning ‘cow’ is defined. The pose Marjaryasana- Bitilasana is a combination of two poses practiced together to gently warm up the spine and the abdomen for more challenging postures or is sometimes also practiced as a simple restorative pose. Coming on all fours, and gently moving the back in a rhythmic way, and taking the position like that of a cat or a cow, releases the tensions around the spine and shoulders and tightens the abdomen to make a stronger core. Cat Cow Pose is considered a base pose as cat cow pose variations can be derived from this pose.Cat Cow Pose helps boost energy in the body and hence can be included in flow yoga sequences.Cat Cow Pose is considered a warm-up yoga pose to prepare the body for more intense yoga poses / yoga flows.

Plank Pose (Phalakasana), as the name suggests, the body is held in a way that looks like a plank, thin and long. In Plank Pose a lot of emphases is on the muscles at the core and the shoulders. This pose essentially works for someone who wants to take the arms and shoulder strength to the next level in order to do more difficult arm balancing yoga poses.

Plank Pose is considered a base pose as plank pose variations can be derived from this pose. This pose helps boost energy in the body and hence can be included in flow yoga sequences.

‘Tada’ = mountain, ‘Sama’ = Upright or straight and ‘Sthiti’ = standing still. Tadasana, therefore, implies a pose where one stands firm and erect as a mountain. Tadasana (Mountain Pose) is considered as a basic standing pose or the foundation pose for any other yoga pose (asana). E.g., Sun Salutation series starts and ends with Tadasana or otherwise called Samasthiti. Mastery over this asana with the firmness of the feet, toes, shoulders, and chest will benefit the practice of all other yoga poses.

Mountain Pose is considered a warm-up yoga pose to prepare the body for more intense yoga poses / yoga flows.

'Vrksa' means 'Tree' and hence Vrksasana means 'Tree Pose'. The very name suggests the body in the final pose should look like a tree. A tree stands tall, strong and straight. Tree Pose (Vrksasana) comes under the standing poses and balancing poses in yoga. Tree Pose is considered a base pose as tree pose variations can be derived from this pose.Tree Pose helps boost energy in the body and hence can be included in flow yoga sequences.

The name comes from the Sanskrit words ‘garuda’ = ‘eagle’ and ‘asana’ = ‘ ‘posture’. Garuda is known as the king of the birds. This standing pose is also referred under the category of balancing poses and works to strengthen the legs. Eagle Pose is considered a base pose as eagle pose variations can be derived from this pose.Eagle Pose helps boost energy in the body and hence can be included in flow yoga sequences.

In Sanskrit ‘Bala’ , means ‘child’. Balasana or Child’s Pose, is generally practiced at the end of an intense yoga sequence wherein the connection of the breath and the movement of the body would have been lost. With the practice of Balasana concluding such a sequence, it allows one to come to peace with the body with the connection of the breath. No doubt all yoga poses should lead to the connection of the breath and the body, but certain poses are challenging where the chest and the abdomen are compressed or pulled, creating uneasiness with the breathing. With Balasana, the spine remains relaxed in forward fold and forces one to focus on the breathing with the compressing of the abdomen and the chest towards the tummy. On the other hand Balasana can be used purely as a restorative pose to heal patients with severe backaches, insomnia, treating blood pressure or just simply bringing the stress levels down. Child Pose is considered a base pose as child pose variations can be derived from this pose.Child Pose helps boost energy in the body and hence can be included in flow yoga sequences.Child Pose is considered a warm-up yoga pose to prepare the body for more intense yoga poses / yoga flows.

Verse 32 of the first chapter of the Hatha Yoga Pradipika states: ‘Lying upon one’s back on the ground at the full length like a corpse is called Savasana. This removes the fatigue caused by the other yoga poses and induces calmness of mind’. ‘Sava’ means a corpse. In this yoga pose, the objective is to imitate a corpse by keeping the body still. By remaining motionless for some time and keeping the mind still while you are fully conscious, you learn to relax. This conscious relaxation invigorates and refreshes both body and mind. This apparently easy posture is one of the most difficult to master, irrespective of the level of yoga practice or the body flexibility. Corpse Pose is considered a base pose as corpse pose variations can be derived from this pose.Corpse Pose helps boost energy in the body and hence can be included in flow yoga sequences.