Basic Sitting Postures With Benefits


JANU SIRSASANA: Correct foot placement

Sit up straight with legs evenly extended in front. Bend the right leg at the knee and place the foot so that the heel is in the right groin and the front of the foot touches the left thigh. Turn the foot so that the bottom of the foot is facing upward and press the knee back to form an obtuse angle with the body. This position will be difficult at first; don't force it. Put a folded blanket under the knee and also under the hips. Gradually the knee will move farther back. Just keep the foot correctly positioned.

JANU SIRSASANA: Correct, perfect posture

Having positioned the foot and knee correctly, stretch the left leg out, keeping the leg firmly on the mat. Settle the heel firmly and stretch the toes up. (The heel should pull gently away from the ankle.) Now inhale and bend forward over the straight leg, catching the foot with both hands if possible. Beginners should bend only as far as they can without rounding the back. When this posture is done correctly and completely, the body will roll forward over the extended leg, absolutely flat from the tail bone to the head. Stay there breathing normally for as long as you can. Inhale, release the handhold, come up smoothly, straighten the bent leg and relax. Repeat on other side.

JANU SIRSASANA: Wrong posture

The heel is not positioned against its own thigh. The knee has not been pushed back as far as possible to form an obtuse angle. The back is humped and curved because the pelvis is jammed and unable to lift properly. Instead of a smooth, complete stretching of the spine, the lumbar is over-stretched and the rest of the spine constricted. The left leg is not flat on the floor.

TRIANG MUKHAIPADA PASCHIMOTTANASANA: Sitting, forward-bending pose over one leg

This posture generally follows the previous one. Sit with your legs stretched in front. Bend the right leg so that the right foot is near the right hip. The toes should point back. The right calf presses against the right thigh. The body will tilt in this position so put a small folded towel under the left buttock to keep the hips level and the forward stretch even and extended. Hold the left foot with both hands, inhale and bend forward, keeping both knees together as you stretch forward over the straight leg. Many students will find it difficult in this position to even take hold of the foot of the outstretched leg. Do not despair. Just hold the knee, shin or ankle, and sit, breathing deeply, in whichever position represents your best extension. If the back is tight and the spine inflexible, this will take time. Release the hold and straighten the bent leg. Repeat on the other side.

Other Articles:


An All-around Yoga Exercise: 12-step Salute To The Sun
Applications In Cancer Treatment
Astanga Vinyasa Yoga
Basic Sitting Postures With Benefits
Basic Yoga Postures And Their Variations
Beginners’ Yoga Video Offers Good Instruction
Breathing And Relaxing
The Seven Chakras
Cure For Asthma
Cure For Modern Day Stresses
Cure Through Yoga
Diabetes
Dynamic Yoga – Exercise 1 & 2
Dynamic Yoga – Exercise 3 & 4
Equipment
Exercises
For Some People, Learning Yoga On Cd-rom Is A Stretch
Go Straight To Video For Yoga Training
Got A Few Minutes
Hatha Yoga
High Blood Pressure (hypertension)
History Of Yoga
How To Start
Infertility
Insomnia
Instant 10-minute Yoga: New Form Of Yoga
Kundalini Yoga
Origins Of Yoga
Parkinson’s Disease
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras
Perfect Truths About Yoga
Posturing: Introduction
Prevention Of Heart Attacks
Rewards Of Yoga - E-commerce Style
Some Of The Lesser Known Yoga Videos
Ten Minute Yoga Plan To Pep Up
What Is Yoga
Work – Life Balance And Yoga
Yoga And Sports: Skiing
Yoga And Sports: Tennis
Yoga For Business People: Do Not Get Distracted From Your Goal
Yoga For Business People: Enhance Your Business Acumen
Yoga For Business People: Lifetime Habit
Yoga For Business People: Mind-body Connection
Yoga For Business People: Workplace Implications
Yoga For Computer Users: Other Postures
Yoga For Computer Users: Releases Lower Back Pain
Yoga For Computer Users: Supported Side Stretches
Yoga For Computer Users: The Side-angled Stretch
Yoga For Computer Users: The Triangle
Yoga For Modern City Life: Ancient Practice Fits Modern Life
Yoga For Modern City Life: Hatha Yoga – Most Popular In The Us
Yoga For Modern City Life: Most Urbanites Start With A Class
Yoga For Modern City Life: Yoga Helps Ease Modern Stress
Yoga For Modern City Life: Yoga Is Now A Lifestyle
Yoga For Women: Before You Start
Yoga For Women: Exercises
Yoga For Women: Hold That Pose
Yoga For Women: How To Gain A Shapely Waist Through Yoga
Yoga For Women: Basic Yoga Lessons For Women
Yoga On The Net
Yoga Videos Arent All Equal At Getting Out The Kinks