Yoga can help you achieve peacefulness and a harmonious balance between your mind and body. It has a lot of health benefits such as improving your posture, relieving stress and stretching your tight muscles. However, if you are only a beginner in this art and science of yoga, you might get that natural feeling of uneasiness when you see the different yoga positions. Add to that the fact that each position has a strange and sometimes intimidating name to it.
But don’t you worry because there are beginner yoga positions that are designed to help you get started. While some can be quite challenging at first, these are all relaxing and will pave the way for you to achieve more complicated yoga poses.
1. The Child’s Pose
Also called the Child’s Pose, it will stretch your hips, thighs and ankles. It can also help with mild back pain problems. To achieve this, you must drop on the floor spreading your knees as wide as you can while keeping your big toes touching each other. Rest your belly on top of your thighs and then let your forehead touch the floor. Then your arms should be stretched upward above your head.
2. The Tadasana
This yoga position is called the Mountain Pose and it will greatly help with your posture. To do this you must stand straight on your mat with your head and neck properly aligned to your spine. Make sure that your big toes are touching each other. When you do this position your knees will naturally be pressed on each other which may cause some discomfort to most people. To relieve this pressure, spread out your knees a little bit on the sides allowing for a little space between them.
3. Cat Stretch
This yoga position will help improve your abdominal strength while stretching the spine. To achieve this, you must drop on all fours just like a cat, hence the name. Now imagine that there is a line drawn on your back. It should be straight, starting from your head all the way down to your spine. Keep this imaginary line straight. Hold this position for a few seconds or a couple of minutes.
4. The Uttanasana
Also known as the Standing Forward Bend yoga pose. It is one of the many beginner positions that will stretch out your hamstrings. Stretching your hamstrings is important because you make it more flexible and therefore less prone to injuries. You do this position by first standing straight. You then bend forward with both arms falling down the sides of your legs. Your palms should then be resting flat on the floor or your mat. Put your weight on the balls of your feet.
5. Urdhva Hastasana
Also called the Raised Hands Pose and it is one of the easiest yoga positions to do. It will help improve your posture as well as your thigh muscles. You start out by standing straight on the floor or yoga mat. Always keep your back straight when doing this position. Next, put your arms in the air and keep it straight. Both of your palms should touch each other. Keep your head and neck straight and just feel your back muscles being stretched.
