Yoga Poses and Sequences
After reading our page on the 'Types of Yoga', you'll get an understanding of just how many types and styles there are under the broad term 'yoga'. As such, there are a wide range of poses, and sequences, that may or may not fit into your workout. Though you may not practice all of the poses in your own yoga class, they are still all practiced and applied in different ways across the world. The reason for this is that each yoga pose has a different function, though they all work towards developing strength and flexibility.
Types of Yoga Pose
Though it would be impossible to list on this page all of the yoga poses that exist, here is a guide to some of the most common types of pose.
Back Bends: These are very good at opening up your chest, which has a number of benefits including to increase the elasticity of your shoulders, and to make your arms and shoulders stronger. It can also increase the ability of the spine and relieve tension.
Forward Bends: These help to stretch different areas of the body, including the lower back and the hamstrings. As a result you will have more flexibility in the spine, and reduce tension in the neck, back and shoulders.
Standing Poses: These poses are extremely important, and are good for aligning the body's posture. They also increase strength in the legs and hips.
Seated Poses: These poses are specially designed to increase the flexibility of your hip and lower back, as well as strengthening your back as a whole. They can also help you to breathe deeper and relieve stress.
Balance: There are a number of balance poses in yoga, many of which are seen as very difficult, though fun to do at the same time. In general, using these poses will improve your posture which has a number of other health benefits. Not only this, your attention will be more focused and you will find yourself relaxing and forgetting about your worries.
Understanding these general categories of yoga pose will make your practice a lot easier, though it takes time to learn in detail what the individual poses are.
If You're Just Getting Started
When you begin yoga it won't take long for you to come across a huge number of poses in your reading or in class. Try not to get overwhelmed, as you don't have to learn or memorise them all. The longer you practice yoga, the more natural they become. Eventually you'll be able to tackle some of the more challenging poses, but it's important not to rush into this.
