Yoga for a Beautiful Body

Awkward Chair 

Stand with feet together and abs contracted. Exhale as you push your hips back to squat down as if sitting in a chair; at the same time, lift your arms by your ears. Arms should be shoulder-width with palms facing and fingers pointing toward the ceiling. Hold for 5 to 8 breaths.

High Lunge

Keeping arms raised and abs tight, step your left foot back and lower into lunge position so front knee is bent at 90 degrees and directly over your ankle. Hold for 5 breaths.

Plank 

Lower your hips, coming onto your toes and moving your torso forward until your shoulders are directly over your hands. Your abs should be tight, with your body in a straight line from head to heels. Hold for 5 breaths.

Low Plank

Keeping your body in line, inhale and bend your elbows to 90 degrees to lower yourself toward the floor. Hold for 1 breath.

Half Moon

Return to center and drop your right hand to the floor about 10 inches diagonally in front and outside of your right foot. Raise your left arm, pointing fingers toward the ceiling as you straighten your right leg and lift your straight left leg into the air, foot flexed and pointing to the side; look up at your left hand. Hold for 5 breaths.

Benefits of Yoga in Everyday Life

The practice of yoga, as well as giving all those attributes that are well known, can also give many helpful benefits in everyday life that do not necessarily belong to the field of yoga.

* Yoga can help cure insomnia, as regular yoga practice leads to better and deeper sleep.

* Yoga can help fight fatigue and maintain your energy throughout the day.

* Yoga is an effective treatment for a variety of autoimmune diseases because it can reduce the symptoms these diseases often cause, such as stiffness, malaise, fatigue, and weakness.

Yoga Benefits For Eyes

Most of us do not exercise our eye muscles at all, but yet, we work them all the time, causing them to be under constant strain. The only time the eyes rest for more than a split second, is when we are asleep.

* Light a lamp/candle at a distance of two feet at the eye level. Stare at the bluish centre of the flame with a steady gaze. Continue staring, even if the eyes start watering. 

* You can do this for about 10 minutes to begin with, and slowly increase the duration until the time you feel comfortable. 

* Then slowly get up and fill your mouth with water. Keeping this water in your mouth, wash eyes with tap water. 

* Then spit the water out. This water will be warm as heat gets released from the body. This has to be done twice or until the water temperature gets normal. This is a must after this particular kriya. 

* Look to your right as far as you can, being aware of the edge of your visual field. Hold for 3 seconds, then release. Repeat again, but looking to your left. Hold for 3 seconds, then release. Repeat left and right 3 times. 

* Sit comfortably on a straight-backed chair, with your legs uncrossed and hands resting lightly in your lap. Keep your chin level and move only your eyes, neither your head nor neck. 

* Breathe gently and evenly throughout the sequence. Don’t stain nor force any movements: go only as far as is comfortable. Close your eyes to relax at the end.

* Sit comfortably with your eyes open. Blink around 10 times very quickly. Close your eyes and relax for 20 seconds. Slowly take your attention to your breath. 

* Repeat this exercise about 5 times. 

* Rub your palms together and gently cup them over your closed eyes for around a minute. This is known as palming and is very beneficial for the eyes. 

* The eyes need darkness to rejuvenate them and this need is best served by palming. Palming should be done after every eye exercise, to relax the eyes and every now and then during the day.