15 Yoga Poses That Will Boost Your Health

Jun 05, 2018 by apost team

People have been practicing yoga for hundreds of years. During this time, practitioners have known that this meditative exercise is great for your body and mind. With it, you can develop flexibility, balance, strength, and mindfulness. Here are 15 poses that can help you feel better in body and mind. 

One of the most well-known and important asanas in yoga, the downward facing dog is a fantastic stretch that lengthens and strengthens your muscles. To reach this pose, go to all fours with your knees under your hips and your wrists under your shoulders. Bring your toes under your feet and push into the floor with your palms, sending your tailbone to the sky and straightening your legs. You can bend your knees if needed. 

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A serious strength builder that will help you develop your whole practice, plank pose is for your entire body. Think of it as a high push-up position. Stack your shoulders over your hands and put your entire body in a straight line from head to heel.

Think of upward plank pose as a reverse plank. It will help stretch your shoulders and strengthen your arms. Lie on your back and push up into a plank with your hands below your shoulders, your body in a straight line from head to toe. 

Extended side angle pose helps you open your chest and stretch your sides. Start with your feet one leg-length apart and your arms wide, then turn one foot out to 90 degrees. Peel your hips back and slide your upper body towards the turned foot, stretching your arm down to place your hand on your knee, shin, ankle or floor. Stretch the opposite arm up toward the ceiling.

Start in a mountain pose with your feet together. Bring one knee up, grab it and rest the corresponding foot on the opposite inner thigh. Once you find balance, bring your hands up and together above your head, arms fully outstretched.

Essentially a big backward lunge with a reach, warrior one starts in mountain. Step all the way back with one leg, turning the foot as needed for balance. Bend the front knee to accommodate the lunge. Finally, bring both arms high up, rolling your shoulders back and lifting your chest.

A variation of warrior one, warrior two has a twist. Turn your hips to the side of the mat and stretch your arms out in either direction, keeping your leading leg bent. 

A fantastic beginner's pose, the bridge starts with you lying on your backs. Bring your feet back toward your hips and press them into the ground, bringing your hips up.

A favorite restorative pose, rest in child's pose whenever practice is tough. Start by sitting on your knees and leaning forward over your legs. Bring your forehead to the mat and let your arms relax by your sides. You'll feel this stretching between your shoulder blades.

Starting in downward dog, bring yourself into plank, then bend your elbows while you mindfully lower yourself to the floor. From there, bring your shoulders back and press into your palms, lifting your head, shoulders, and torso off the mat.

To get into the sometimes difficult bow pose, lie down facing the floor. Bend your knees and lift your torso, bring your arms back to grab your ankles.

An intermediate pose that activates the abdominals, boat pose begins in a seated position. Bend your knees and lean back, controlling the movement with your stomach muscles. Lift your feet off the mat, bringing your shins parallel to it. Lastly, bring your arms parallel to the floor, stretched out alongside your shins. 

Lie on your back with your feet on the floor, knees bent. Slowly open your chest, lifting your upper back off the mat and moving your hands under your bottom. Lift your upper back completely off the floor until the top of your head touches the mat.

A great way to stimulate your organs, wind pose is simple. Lie on your back and hug your knees to your chest. You can lift your head and shoulders to your knees for a deeper stretch. 

Let us know about your favorite yoga poses in the comments. 

Our content is created to the best of our knowledge, yet it is of general nature and cannot in any way substitute an individual consultation with your doctor. Your health is important to us!