What you do on the yoga mat does not stay on the yoga mat! Yoga positions, philosophy, lifestyle and meditations journey with us. Many yoga positions can be transferred to life beyond the yoga mat. We become much more aware of how we stand, sit and the way we move.
Basic yoga poses include resting poses like Shavasana and Child's Pose. There is another basic pose called "Wind Relieving Pose" or Apanasana, basically Child's Pose on your back. If you have a sore knee and cannot rest in Child's Pose, this is an excellent alternative. Lying on your back, hug your knees in towards your chest. If you have a round body and cannot reach your knees, use a strap around your lower legs to hold the knees in place. If your knee is sore to touch, clasp your hands underneath the knee.
To add more movement, leave one knee at the chest, and extend the other leg to the floor. Alternate legs. To strengthen the abdomen, raise the head off the floor and hands as well. If you are recovering from surgery or have weak abdominal muscles, rest the hands palms down on the floor. Always listen to the body's messages.
This yaga pose helps elimination problems, including menstrual cramps. It is a cooling pose. With both legs in towards the chest, hold for 15 minutes or more to release tension in the low back. The pose encourages surrender. As you breathe consciously and rhythmically the diaphragm massages the abdominal and pelvic areas, assisting digestion. Feel this movement in the abdomen. With eyes closed you are drawn deeper within to rest in your own secret world. Even the heart can relax.
Mastermind
When settled comfortably in the pose, with breathing stabilized, you can mastermind a plan for good health. Visualization is easier for some of us. It gets easier with practice. What does good health look like to you? Feel that good health as you hold the pose. Which system of the body is affected? How well do you know the system? If it is unfamiliar, you'll need to research what it looks like in order to visualize it. To be more effective, practice visualizing good health 3 times per day for 15 minutes.
Rest in peaceful surrender in Apanasana, with eyes gently closed. Feel the breath move within your body like a slow wave, rising and falling. Allow the mind and heart to rest in your secret sacred place of healing.
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