Yoga BLOG
Every beginning is surprisingly easy: Yoga for beginners – Asanas (physical exercises)
by Nick
on Aug 12 2023
Yoga for beginners
The wounded peacock pose, one-handed tree pose, or scorpion pose in a handstand: Don't worry, as a yoga beginner, no one is demanding these asanas from you. Very few yogis have mastered these extreme poses. Yoga doesn't require performance pressure: everyone can do it their way. Simply start by gently increasing your flexibility with simple basic exercises and focusing on the beneficial effects of the asanas. Everything else will follow with time.
Basic yoga poses suitable for beginners
There are a dozen or so asanas that, when performed in a relaxed sequence, are particularly suitable for beginners. Some look more complicated in photos or at first glance than they actually are. You can adapt the exercises depending on your flexibility and physical condition – ideally with qualified instruction. As a beginner, learning your first asanas at home is possible, but you won't have external control over the movement sequence and breathing. Since no one will give you tips, you're on your own and should therefore be particularly careful. Videos are often helpful, and a large mirror can also give you insight into whether you're performing the physical exercise correctly. We present five asanas that should be an integral part of your exercise program.
The Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar)
This holistic, dynamic, core exercise invigorates you physically, mentally, and spiritually. Your circulation gets going, and you immediately feel renewed vitality and activity. You can perform the Sun Salutation movements in the morning to start the day with renewed vigor, or you can use them in the evening to release new energy. With its 12 movements, the Sun Salutation is an ideal warm-up exercise that loosens you up, has a harmonizing effect, and prepares your body for further asanas.
The Candle Pose (Sarvangasana)
The candle pose, also called inversion pose, doesn't have to be perfectly straight right away. It takes a little patience and practice until you can balance yourself properly and stretch your legs and toes upwards for between 10 and 60 seconds. Advanced yogis stay in this pose for three minutes, which simultaneously relaxes and stimulates the entire body.
The Pliers Pose (Paschimottanasana)
The exercise is also known as a seated trunk bend or forward bend. It's important to perform it slowly and smoothly. Bend forward, vertebra by vertebra, keeping your legs straight. A single jerky movement can easily lead to strains, so don't force it! Progress is rapid with the forward bend, so even most beginners can quickly touch their toes while resting their head on their knees. The pincer movement strengthens the internal organs and abdominal muscles, relieves tension in the spine and legs, and has an overall revitalizing effect.
The Tree (Vrkasana)
This asana helps you achieve inner and outer balance: The tree pose is an excellent posture and balance exercise that tones the body, strengthens the leg muscles, promotes self-confidence, and harmonizes the soul. When performing it, you must focus entirely on yourself and your goal. Finding your balance more and more confidently and maintaining it for longer and longer periods of time is an incredibly motivating experience.
Child's Pose (Balasana)
Curled up like a child in the womb, relax completely and recharge your batteries: This exercise, also known as "Curled Leaf Pose," releases physical and mental tension and has an almost therapeutic effect. If you conclude your yoga routine with this asana and remain in the pose for a few minutes, you'll feel reborn—even if you were tired and worn out at the beginning.
What (not only) beginners should pay attention to
Whatever asanas you choose, don't perform them immediately after eating. Otherwise, you'll quickly experience an unpleasant feeling of fullness, perhaps even accompanied by nausea. Wait an hour and a half, or even two hours, so that the last meal won't sit heavily on your stomach.
Make sure the environment is comfortably warm. Yoga isn't a sport, so the room shouldn't be too cold.
Start your yoga program with a relaxation exercise, a breathing exercise or meditation to calm down.
Don't force yourself to hold a position for a particularly long time or perform a stretch until you feel pain. This is a mistake, as it's counterproductive. With composure, you'll reach your goal more safely.
Put together a program that combines movements and countermovements to balance things out. For example, if you arch your back during one exercise, a rounded-back exercise will balance things out.
As a yoga newbie, you're best off starting out in a yoga class. There, professional teachers will guide you and help you internalize the exercises.
©iStock.com/ Ridofranz
by Nick
on Sep 03 2017
Learn yoga, but do it right Those who have found their own personal connection to yoga will be unlikely to let anything deter them from practicing. Even busy schedules occasionally offer a gap. Some are grumpy morning people and therefore prefer to practice in the evening, right after work. Others prefer to start the day with a few exercises in the morning. Anyone practicing this form should have some knowledge of yoga. You have to be especially careful in the morning because your muscles and joints aren't fully awake yet. Overstretching can cause problems. Don't take too many risks, or you could end up with strains or herniated discs. Long, gentle stretches are essential before the actual asanas . This may increase the total practice time, so set your alarm earlier so you don't have to rush. Yoga is not suitable under stressful circumstances. If it's getting too late, it's better to treat yourself to a few quiet minutes over breakfast instead of forcing yourself to do three more yoga poses. Anyone who wants to practice at home should, as mentioned, have some yoga experience. Without a mirror, you can't see whether you're practicing correctly. If you have a good sense of your body, you can base your practice on that. It will tell you when to remain still and where you might need to stretch and work a little further. For all other aspiring yogis: A few hours with a good teacher are always a worthwhile investment. There are inexpensive courses at adult education centers. Private studios also offer a variety of classes. These are generally a bit more expensive. Through direct interaction, you'll learn a lot of new and interesting things. Plus, you might enjoy training in a group. Otherwise, you can book individual lessons, although these are also the most expensive. Another way to train yourself is through the internet, DVDs, and TV programs. There are TV yoga programs that demonstrate a few yoga poses in a quarter of an hour or more. If you don't have time for that, you can record them and play them back at a more convenient time. Alternatively, there are pre-made DVDs available. Make sure you buy ones that match your yoga level. It's best to try out several DVDs, as every teacher trains differently, and not every one is right for you. You can, of course, also use an internet video and practice along. The advantage: It's available to you at any time. Last but not least, there are a wealth of books dedicated to yoga exercises . The beauty of these books is that they usually also teach you a bit about yoga philosophy. If you're a beginner, you have to be especially careful with printed instructions to avoid making mistakes. No one will correct your posture, and at best, you'll only have pictures showing you the optimal posture. This is somewhat different from moving images on the internet or on television. It's great if you can practice with someone. Then you can start in the way that suits you best. Image © bialasiewicz / 123rf.com
by Nick
on Feb 15 2016
Hatha Yoga exercises Hatha Yoga is a branch of yoga that—as distinct from spiritual forms of yoga—is considered a physical form of yoga. This variant is understood as a separate stage on the path to spiritual yoga. The term "Hatha" in Sanskrit means strength and tenacity. It refers to the effort required to achieve one's goal through practice and dedication. Hatha Yoga can be traced back to the 14th century. It was first mentioned in the famous classical yoga text Hathapradipika by the yogi Svatmarama. Perspectives on Hatha Yoga are complex and multifaceted. Different yogis had different views, which led to three central works on the subject today. In addition to the Hathapradipika, these are the Gherandasmhita and the Shivasamhita. Today, Hatha Yoga is practiced primarily in Western Europe and the Americas. When people talk about "yoga" in general, they generally mean the Hatha Yoga form. The associated exercises are very extensive and complex. They primarily include cleansing exercises, body postures, breathing exercises, and energy exercises. Kriyas - The cleansing exercises In Hatha Yoga, the Kriyas (Sanskrit: action, deed) techniques are among the central yoga exercises . They are referred to as cleansing exercises that define the purification of the body, especially the body's cavities, and the associated maintenance of health. In addition to numerous individual small exercises, there are six central main exercises that are considered the most important and are described in the famous yoga text Hathapradipika from the 14th century. 1.) Trataka – Purification of the tear flow of the eyes by fixing a point 2.) Neti – cleaning the nose with the help of a thread or a rinse 3.) Kapalabhati – cleansing the lungs through rapid breathing 4.) Dhauti – cleansing of the upper digestive tract, especially through douching 5.) Nauli – cleansing the intestines through circular movements of the abdominal muscles 6.) Basti – cleansing of the colon mainly through douching Asanas – The body positions
Asanas are postures or exercises that affect the whole person and address both physical reality and the mental perspective. The Sanskrit term means "fixed body posture" and thus defines the focus of these exercises on holding a practice situation for several seconds. The exercises are based on gentle and extremely slow movements and can generally be performed by everyone, regardless of age. The postures are performed in a meditative state. They strengthen the body, help it heal when needed, and keep limbs and joints supple when performed regularly. Pranayama – The breathing exercises
The cleansing exercises mentioned above, together with the asanas, are considered essential prerequisites for being able to practice Pranayama, the breathing technique used in yoga. Breathing exercises are central to Hatha Yoga for sustainably revitalizing the body and mind. They provide access to one's own life energy and help manage stress and tension. There are abdominal breathing exercises and rapid breathing exercises to quickly supply the body with oxygen. Alternate nostril breathing exercises balance emotional well-being and are considered preparation for meditation. The ideal thing about these breathing exercises is that they can be performed in numerous everyday situations. Even people who are ill or have limited mobility and therefore may not be able to perform physical yoga exercises can benefit significantly from these breathing techniques. Mudras – The energy exercises
Energy control exercises include so-called minor and major mudras. All mudras are performed with the hands or fingers. The small mudras refer to individual parts of the body. Typical exercises are designed to energetically influence the respective body parts. The major mudras include several smaller mudras and, in addition, specific breathing and visualization techniques. Mudras are said to offer a special way to meditate. They are believed to have healing powers and a powerful energetic effect. Image © byheaven / 123rf.com