Category: yoga poses
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Ardha Matsyendrasana – Half Lord of the Fishes Pose
There’s a delicious cleansing quality to the twists in yoga. Half lord of the fishes pose (ardha matsyendrasana in Sanskrit) is a seated spinal twist, and I think it’s fair to say is more intense in general than standing or reclining twists. With its cleansing properties it can feel nourishing,…
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Garudasana – Eagle
How often do you stand on one leg, your legs wrapped around each other and your arms similarly entwined? And, if you try it, is it possible to think of anything else other than what you’re doing? Welcome to eagle pose (garudasana in sanksrit). This asymmetrical standing balance is a…
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Bhujangasana – Cobra
The back bends in yoga are a delicious antidote to all the forward bending oriented actions we do all day long – driving, sitting at computers, household chores, looking after small children, scrolling…They can help us to balance this out and, over time, assist in halting that forward drift in…
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Paschimottanasana – Seated Forward Fold
I think there’s a lovely introspective quality to paschimottanasana or our seated forward fold in yoga. It feels nurturing, turning awareness inward as you, quite literally, fold in on yourself physically. This asana has soothing, calming and rejuvenating properties. The idea is that the whole of the back of the…
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Virabhadrasana I – Warrior I
The warrior asanas in yoga are associated with strength and energy, with opening up and with courage, so they’re good to play with. Who doesn’t need a bit of that? Warrior I (virabhadrasana I in Sanskrit) generates heat. This beautiful BIG posture works your entire muscular system involving muscles in…
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Adho Mukha Svanasana – Down Dog
Down dog (adho mukha svanasana in Sanskrit) is a BIG whole body pose that is many things. An inversion (head below heart), a forward bend, an arm balance, a restorative pose…You won’t get very far into a yoga practice before coming across it. What are its beautiful benefits? This posture…
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Trikonasana – Triangle Pose
Triangles are strong – a shape used in architecture to provide strength and stability. They support weight and resist pressure. Triangle pose (trikonasana) brings up the idea of a foundation of strength through the lower body for me, and also of opening up – opening the chest, the shoulders, the…
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Dandasana – Base Pose
Dandasana (base pose) is a posture we usually hurry briefly through on the way to another one. But it has it’s own merits. We don’t often sit in such an aligned intentional way on the floor. If practiced regularly this simple asana is beneficial in improving posture, and is a…
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Savasana – Relaxation Pose
If yoga postures were days, savasana (relaxation pose) would be an old fashioned Sunday. The kind where all the shops shut and there was a break from daily routines. Permission to rest. Savasana’s a beautiful transition from your daily activities into yoga practice; a chance to let go. It’s the…
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Tadasana – Mountain Pose
Whether you’ve been practicing for a while or are just beginning your yoga journey, it can be useful to reflect on various postures. Mountain pose (tadasana in Sanskrit) is a foundational symmetrical standing pose (asana) you’ll constantly come into in your yoga practice, and is the foundation for all the…
Sue Ransom Yoga 