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Bhujangasana or Cobra Pose - How to do, its Benefits

Bhujangasana or Cobra Pose Step 1 Bhujangasana or Cobra Pose Step 2 Bhujangasana is part of the Sun Salutation or Surya Namaskar. Bhujang means Cobra and Asana means Posture. So it is called as Bhujangasana. This pose resembles a serpent with its hood raised. How to do Bhujangasana or Cobra Pose Lie on your stomach with your toes flat on the floor. Forehead should be resting on the ground. Keep your legs close together. Feet and heels lightly touch each other. Place your hands (palms downwards) under your shoulders. Keep your elbows parallel and close to your torso. Take a deep breath in. Slowly lift your head, chest and abdomen keeping your navel on the floor. Pull your torso back and off the floor with support of your hands. Keep breathing with awareness. Try to straighten your arms by arching your back as much as possible. Tilt your head back and look up. Keep your shoulders relaxed. Bend your elbows if required. With regular practice you can deepen the st

Padmasana or Lotus Pose – How to do and its Benefits

Padmasana or Lotus Pose Padmasana or Lotus Position is a cross-legged sitting asana originating in meditative practices of ancient India. People, who are suffering from stiff legs, knees, ankles etc., can overcome this discomfort by regular practice combined with patience and perseverance. How to do Padmasana (Lotus Pose) ·           In Padmasana we have to place the right foot on the left thigh and the left foot on the right thigh. ·           Position of heels is adjusted so that they are both pressing on the nearest part of the abdomen. ·           Hands are kept open and resting on the knees. ·           Keep palms in the air with tips of the index finger touching the thumb forming a small circle called Jnana Mudra. Index finger represents the individual soul and the thumb represents universal one. Union of the two symbolizes knowledge. ·           Hands can also rest flat on the knees. ·           Another position for hands can also be one on top of the other

Anulom Vilom Pranayam – Steps and Benefits

Anulom Vilom Pranayam – Steps and Benefits Anulom Vilom Pranayam  – Steps and Benefits Anulom Vilom Pranayam is one of the breathing exercise or pranayam used in Hatha Yoga. Anulom means with the grain or natural. Vilom means without the grain. So Anuloma is opposite of Viloma. Benefits of Anulom Vilom Pranayama It helps to cure mental issues like Depression, Anxiety, Stress, Tension etc. It very beneficial for breathing related problems like Bronchitis, Asthma etc. Anulom Vilom Pranayam improves working of lungs. This breathing technique boosts our memory and makes our brain sharper. It improves our immune system and cures general issues like cough & cold. It also keeps our heart healthy. Anulom Vilom Pranayama is best for balancing Tri doshas in our body. Tri means three and doshas means impurities. Vaat, Pitta and Kaffa are the three doshas in the body. Imbalance in any of these doshas is cause of all diseases. Doing Anulom Vilom regularly is bes

Pran Mudra and its Many Benefits

Pran Mudra Pran Mudra or Prana Mudra is a hand and finger gesture. It represents life force. Doing this hand mudra activates  root chakra  and flow of life force. This mudra is also referred as pitta-nashak mudra or kapha kaarak mudra or healing mudra. How to do Pran Mudra Sit in a comfortable position. Join the tips of the little and ring finger with tip of the thumb. Do this gesture with both hands. What does Pran Mudra Do Ring Finger represents earth element, little finger represents water element and thumb represents fire element. So when we do Pran Mudra it increases Earth, Water element and reduces the fire element. Earth and Water element are major part of Kapha humor. Kapha humor play major role in vitality, strength and immunity. Pran Mudra decreases Pitta humor which has a direct impact on bodily temperature. Benefits of Practising Pran Mudra Pran Mudra helps to reduce Chronic Fatigue, General Debility, and Low Endurance. Pran Mudra improves immu

Deep Breathing Exercise to lose Weight

Deep Breathing Exercise to lose Weight Human body releases 70 per cent of the toxins through breathing. Shallow breathing accumulates toxins in our body which can lead to health issues over time. Belly fat is most stubborn and difficult to get rid of. It can lead to many health problems. People with fat in their abdominal region usually are at risk of heart attack, hypertension, diabetes and many others. Along with proper diet breathing exercises can help to get rid of that unwanted belly fat quickly. Breathing exercises keep us healthy and also help to eliminate fat present on top of abdominal muscles. Breathing exercises improve our digestion and metabolism. Deep breathing exercises increase the supply of oxygen in our body. This extra oxygen supplied to our body help in burning the fat deposited in the body.  Breathing improves blood circulation and tones the abdominal muscles. Diaphragm Breathing Diaphragm breathing makes our abdominal muscles flexible. Engagi

Kapalbhati Pranayam – Steps and Benefits

 Kapalbhati Pranayam – Steps and Benefits Kapal means forehead. Bhati means shining and Pranayama means control of breath. Kapalbhati pranayama is a very powerful breathing exercise that not just helps us lose weight but also brings our entire system into a perfect balance. When we do pranayama 80% of the toxins of our body are released through the outgoing breath. Regular practice of Kapalbhati pranayama detoxifies all the systems our body. Kapalbhati means shining forehead. This is what happens when we do practice it regularly. Our forehead glows and intellect becomes sharp, refined with regular practice. How to do Kapalbhati Pranayama Sit comfortably with spine erect in Vajrasana or any comfortable sitting pose. Place hands on the knees (if sitting in sukhasana)or thighs(if sitting in vajrasana). Take a deep breath. Exhale continuously through the nose. As you exhale the stomach goes in. Exhalation should be forceful and active. Inhalation happens automatically.

Bhastrika Pranayam – Steps and Benefits

Bhastrika Pranayam – Steps and Benefits Bhastrika pranayama is a breathing technique which generates heat in the body. As per ayurveda it is especially beneficial for people who have Kapha body composition or are water dominated. Bhastrika pranayama looks similar to Kapalbahti but is different from it in two major ways. Kapalbhati breathing exercise involves stomach and mimics sneezing. Bhastrika on the other hand involves chest and lungs. In Bhastrika Pranayama both inhalation and exhalation are forced. It is like post running panting. Benefits of Bhastrika Pranayam It is good for giving oxygen to brain. It benefits the nervous and the motor system. It is great for energizing the body and the mind. It is good for people with depression and anxiety. It helps in treating fibrosis. It is great for lungs and people who suffer from repetitive cough, flu, respiratory issues, allergies or breathlessness. It helps to strengthen immunity. It checks sleep apnea as well.

Health Benefits of Gyan Mudra

Health Benefits of Gyan Mudra Gyan Mudra is often used while meditating. It is one of the most important mudras that promote physical and mental health. It is also called as Chin Mudra. In Sanskrit chin or cin means “consciousness”. Mudra means “gesture” or “seal”.  So gyan mudra may be translated to mean “gesture of consciousness” in English. How to perform Gyan Mudra To do Gyan Mudra bring the tips of the thumb and index fingers together and form a circle. Sit in a cross legged position. Keep your hands on the thighs with elbows bent or straight. Remaining three fingers are stretched and palms are facing upwards. It can be done for 45 minutes at a stretch to gain maximum benefits or three rounds of 15 minutes each. It is advisable to do this mudra at same time every day. Gyan mudra is used in meditative yoga poses. It is used in certain breathing techniques including nadi shodhana pranayama and ujjayi pranayam. It can be practiced while in padmasana also. This m

Aakash Mudra – How to do and its Benefits

Aakash Mudra - How to do and its Benefits Aakash mudra is a hand gesture used to increase element of space within the body. In Sanskrit ‘Aakash’ means to view or recognize and mudra means ‘gesture’ or ‘seal’ or ‘mark’. Sometimes it is also called as Shuni Mudra. How to do Aakash Mudra Press tip of the middle finger with tip of the thumb. Others fingers are held fairly straight. Both the hands are kept in this position. Duration of Aakash Mudra It is suggested to practice Aakash Mudra in a quiet place in meditation and focusing on breath. It should be done for 30-45 minutes a day at a stretch or in 3 sets of 15 minutes each. It is better to practice it between 2 to 6 a.m. or 2 to 6 p.m. Benefits of Aakash Mudra Aakash mudra increases the element of space or cosmos within the body. This helps the practicioner to unite with a specific diety or a broader cosmic power. It is also called as mudra for enlightenment. It helps to develop intuition and Extra Sensory Powe

Mushti Mudra to Release Pent-Up Emotions

Mushti Mudra to Release Pent-Up Emotions Mushti mudra is a hand mudra which helps to release pent-up emotions. It is a therapeutic mudra and has healing properties. In Sanskrit Mushti means ‘closed hand’ or ‘fist’. Mudra means ‘gesture’ or ‘seal’. Therefore, this mudra is also known as fist mudra. How to do Mushti Mudra To do this mudra, make a fist with each hand. Keep the thumb stretched over the first three fingers to touch the ring finger. Hand Mudras can be done seated, standing or even walking as long as the posture is balanced and the body is relaxed. Duration of Mushti Mudra Practice Mushti mudra can be practiced three times a day for 15 minutes to get the therapeutic benefits. Benefits of Mushti Mudra Practicing mushti mudra after a meal is believed to activate energy in the stomach and liver, thus helping in digestion. It relieves negative emotions such as anger, fear and frustration. It eases constipation. It lowers blood pressure. It clears the mi

Surya Mudra for Weight Loss

Surya Mudra for Weight Loss Surya Mudra increases fire element and reduces earth element in the body.  Surya means ‘sun’ and mudra means ‘gesture’ in Sanskrit. How to do Surya Mudra Sit in a comfortable position cross legged. Surya mudra is done by bending ring finger and placing the tip of the finger under the thumb. Apply gentle pressure by thumb on ring finger. This mudra is to be done with both the hands. Thumb represents fire element and ring finger represents earth element. So fire element increases and earth element reduces when this mudra is practiced. Surya Mudra is also known as Agni vardhak mudra or prithvi shamak mudra. Duration of Surya Mudra Practice Surya Mudra should be practiced 30 to 45 minutes every day at once or 3 sets of 10 to 15 minutes each. It should not be overperformed as it increases heat in the body. Benefits of Surya Mudra It increases heat in the body. It improves metabolism and promotes weight loss. It helps in treating flu. It

Prithvi Mudra to Increase Vitality, Strength and Endurance

Prithvi Mudra to Increase Vitality, Strength and Endurance Prithvi means ‘vast one’ and is also name of earth in Sanskrit. Mudra signifies ‘gesture’ or ‘mark’ or ‘seal’. Prithvi Mudra increases the Prithvi or Earth element in the body. So it is also called as Prithvi Vardhak Mudra. It also decreases the Agni or Fire element in the body. So it is also called as Agni Shaamak Mudra. How to Prithvi Mudra Prithvi Mudra is formed by joining tips of ring finger and tip of thumb. Other fingers are kept straight as much possible but not rigid. It should be practiced with both hands. It is recommended to do this mudra sitting quietly while meditating. Look at breath come in and go out of your body. It is suggested not to move hands and fingers while practicing this mudra. Benefits of Prithvi Mudra Prithvi Mudra increases vitality, strength and endurance. It strengthens and heals the physical body. Practice of Prithi Mudra increases Kapha humor within the body. So, it can b

Apan Vayu Mudra for Heart Problems

Apan Vayu Mudra for Heart Problems Apan Vayu Mudra is hand gesture which helps in promoting a healthy heart. It balances body elements. Human body is made of five elements Fire, Air, Water, Space and Earth. These five elements are denoted by five fingers of our hands. Thumb represents Fire element, index finger represents Air element, middle finger represents space element, ring finger represents earth element and little finger represents water element. When these five elements remain in balance it creates health, harmony and vitality. Imbalance of these five elements would cause disease and sickness. Hand mudra is formed with one or more fingers coming in contact with the thumb to complete the electric circuit and facilitate the flow of life energy throughout the body. This results in balancing of body elements represented by these fingers. Apana Vayu Mudra is also known as Mrita-Sanjeevani Mudra because Yoga experts believe that this mudra can reduce the risk of lif