Learn Yoga

If you are a yoga beginner, learning the basic yoga poses is essential before trying the more advanced poses and their variations. There are many ways to learn yoga such as attending yoga classes, hiring a personal yoga instructor for lessons at home or learning on your own through a yoga DVD or book.

When practicing yoga, first divide yoga poses into 5 main categories – forward bend poses, twisting poses, inverted poses, backbends and standing poses. By incorporating yoga into your daily life and learning the correct alignment of the poses will provide the most benefit. If you are finding it difficult to focus your mind and concentrate in performing tasks at work, a standing balance pose refocuses the mind, concentration and regains a sense of inner balance.

Anytime you are feeling disoriented or scattered, practicing the following three yoga balancing poses will help improve your concentration and ground your energy.

Tree Pose

The Tree pose is a graceful pose that encourages your mind to become steadier and calmer. Not only does it teach you to balance on one leg but also in focusing the connection you have by reaching your arms upwards to the sky and your feet touching the earth.

• Stand straight and tall, looking eye level at a fixed point
•  Completely place your weight on your left leg. Bending your right, gently bring your right foot against your inner left thigh’s upper area. Then gently squeeze your thigh and foot together.
•  Over your head, raise up your arms, gently releasing your shoulder blades down while bringing your palms together
•  Breathe deeply ten to twenty times of deep breaths.
•  Lower right leg and on your opposite leg repeat the pose

Eagle Pose

The eagle pose is effective in achieving a focused and clear mind. Circulation to the limbs is encouraged when your legs and arms are wrapped up.

• In the standing position, shift your weight on to the right leg with a slightly bent knee. Take your left leg and wrap around your right so your toes on your left foot is on the inside part of your right ankle.
• Wrap arms around your chest, placing your left arm over your right and stretching your fingers over your shoulder blades.
• Bring palms together, keeping your elbows close together as is possible.
• Bend low as you can go, holding this position while squeezing your legs and arms together.
• For 10 to 20 breaths, stay in this balancing position. Release the arms and legs and come back to a standing straight position. Repeat this pose on the other side.

Boat Pose

A seated balancing pose that is ideal for strengthening and toning muscles of the stomach. It strengthens the spinal muscles which relieves lower backache and increases circulation in the abdomen. Your mind becomes steadier and calmer as you balance and focus on your buttocks.

• Sit on a yoga mat or blanket on the floor. Besides your hips, place your hands on the floor.
• Slightly leaning back, bend your knees and raise up and stretch your bent legs forward.
• Keep straight both your legs unless if it is uncomfortable then bend your knees. Balancing on your buttocks, having the feet lined with your eyes.
• Stretch forward both arms, with palms facing down, keeping your arms parallel to floor.
• Keep your concentration on lengthening and stretching your spine, keeping chest open taking 10 to 20 deep breaths. Relax your neck muscles and shoulders.
• Exhale, returning your legs back to the floor.

Take your time when getting into a yoga pose by being listening to your breath and being gentle when in the yoga position. By focusing on an external point is the key to any balancing pose, such as a still object that as you hold the pose you can keep your attention on.  After a hard yoga session, relaxation and winding down are key.  Often times a spa treatment is just what you need to help you recover from your yoga workout.  If you are an Ontario local, Spa packages Toronto are an amazing way to reflect and replinish your body and mind after a tough yoga session.

The more time spent on practicing these three yoga balancing poses, the easier it will become in staying centered and calm in your day-to-day life.  If you feel these poses are not challenging enough, we suggest you try a mud run.  This is an extreme workout race that will be sure to take your yoga workout to the next level.