Yoga positions are not difficult to master and are not just for white-clad people softly humming “ohmmmmm” in a room. There are many different yoga positions for many different situations – at work, while watching TV, while exercising, or unwinding right before bed after a long day.
Yoga has entered mainstream America and is taught at city recreation centers and most gyms. Many books and videos have also been published, featuring yoga positions and techniques for beginners as well as advanced students. Names such as “Yoga for Dummies” or “Yoga for Wimps” invite even the most timid and inflexible to give yoga positions a try.
Yoga positions at work
Yoga positions to help keep you alert at work and release stress before you head home:
- The arm stretch: while standing, clasp your hands behind your back and lift your arms as high as you can and relax, holding for 30-45 seconds; repeat.
- Chair lower back stretch: sit on your chair and spread your legs further than hip distance apart; from the hip, bend forward and allow your whole body to relax; sit up, inhale, and try again.
Yoga positions while watching TV
Yoga positions done while you are otherwise doing nothing can increase your flexibility and prevent you from becoming a couch potato.
- Fingers between toes: with your feet stretched out in front of you, intertwine your fingers between your toes; flex your feet toward you and squeeze your hand around your foot; you can do one foot at a time or both; hold this pose for one minute.
- Foot in arch stretch: kneel with your knees and feet together; place the top of your right foot on the arch of your left foot and lean back for 20-30 seconds; repeat.
Yoga positions for stress relief
These yoga positions will help you unwind and rejuvenate after a long day or stressful weekend.
- Right angle pose: standing very close to the wall, place your hands on the wall at waist height, shoulder length apart; slowly walk backwards until your torso is perpendicular to the wall and your legs are under your hips; extend your arms and push against the wall, hold for 30-45 seconds.
- Knees to chest: lie on your back, bring your knees to your chest, and hug them; breathe deeply into your lower back and allow your back to relax.
Yoga positions for exercise
As mentioned before, yoga classes are offered in a variety of settings, and are available for every budget. For the yoga enthusiast who travels or has a hectic work schedule, yGuide Yoga has created software that allows the user to tailor yoga positions to the user’s flexibility and skill level. YGuide Yoga allows you to create your yoga positions and workouts at the touch of a mouse, and the pictures are helpful for people who cannot visualize yoga positions from words.
Yoga positions can be very relaxing when given the time and opportunity, and are not just for flexible people; you can work up to higher skill levels and receive the relaxation and rejuvenation that yoga users the world over are experiencing.
By Virginia Zignego