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This is the peacock pose. Kneel on the floor with a small space between the knees. Bend forward and place the palms backwards on the floor so the fingers point towards the toes. Bend the elbows and get the forearms close together. Rest the chest on the backs of the upper arms. Now exhale and stretch the legs out and straighten them so the entire weight of the body is balanced on the arms. Breathe easily here for about thirty seconds. Then lower back down and rest. Precaution: People suffering from peptic or duodenal ulcers, hyperacidity, hernia or high blood pressure should not practice this asana. Pregnant women are strictly advised not to attempt this asana. Benefits:  Tones the abdominal region of the body, because due to the pressure of the elbows against the abdominal aorta, blood circulates properly in the abdominal organs. This improves digestive power and prevents the accumulation of toxins in the system. It develops and strengthens the elbows, forearms and wrists.

This the sideways bow pose. First lie on your stomach with your legs and arms outstretched. Then bend the knees so the toes are pointing towards your head and grasp the toes or ankles with your hands. This is the bow pose. Now exhale and roll over onto your right side. Stay here breathing easily for about thirty seconds. Now return to centre and then exhale and flip onto your left side and breathe easily here for thirty seconds. Then return to centre and relax back into a prone position. Precaution: Pregnancy. Acute low-back injury, high blood pressure, or heart concerns. Shoulder concerns weak heart, high blood pressure, hernia, colitis, peptic or duodenal ulcers Benefits: Brings back elasticity to the spine and tones the abdominal organs. Slipped discs. The liver, abdominal organs and muscles are massaged. The pancreas and adrenal glands are toned, balancing their secretions. The kidneys are  massaged and excess weight is reduced around  the abdominal area. This leads to improved functioning of the digestive, excretory and reproductive organs and helps to remove gastrointestinal disorders, dyspepsia, chronic constipation and sluggishness of the liver. The spinal column is realigned and the ligaments, muscles and nerves are activated, removing stiffness. It helps to correct hunching of the upper back.

This is the embryo pose. Start in sarvangasana which is the shoulder stand. Then fold your legs into urdhva padmasana, which is the upside down padmasana, with your knees folded in the lotus pose with the knees still raised to the sky and the shoulders resting on the floor. From here move the legs over the head and your hands move from supporting the back to clasping the legs. Stay here for thirty seconds breathing easily and relax back down. Benefits: Relieves constipation.

This is the upward facing lotus pose in a shoulder stand. From the sarvangasana. Precaution: Benefits:

 This is the one legged or asymmetrical bow pose. Start in the bridge pose here with your back flat on the floor, your knees bent, your palms by your ear. Then raise your arms, chest and buttocks off the ground so that your body looks like an inverted bow. Here, raise the right leg and point it straight towards the ceiling. Stay here breathing easily for thirty seconds. Then lower the leg, lower the body back to the floor, rest and repeat the pose with the other leg. Precaution: Benefits:

This is the two legged inverted staff pose. Start by lying flat on the floor. Stretch the arms over the head, bend the elbows and place your palms on the floor facing the shoulders. Keep them shoulder width apart. Breathe easily. Now exhale and press your knees as you lift your hips, shoulders and head. Straighten the arms and lift the shoulders. Now place the crown of your head on the floor between your hands and feet. On an exhale interlock your hands behind your head and bring your weight onto your forearms. Now on an exhale lift your chest off the ground so your head is also raised and resting fully on the crown. Your feet are resting flat on the floor. If your knees are bent here, you can straighten out in front of you so they are straight, with the feet still flat on the ground. Breathe easily here for thirty seconds then relax back down on the floor. Precaution: Benefits: keeps the spine sound and healthy while the chest expands fully. good for relieving pain in the coccyx region of the spine.

This is the ear to pressure pose. First start in halasana or the plough pose. From here bring the right knee by the right ear and the left knee by the left ear so both knees are resting on the ground near the respective ears. Stretch the toes and make sure the heels and toes are joined. Rest the hands on the back of the ribs or you can link them and stretch them arms out away from the body. Stay here breathing easily for about thirty seconds. Then slowly relax out of the pose. Precaution: Asthma and high blood pressure Pregnancy, Back pain. Benefits: This asana rests the trunk, heart and legs. The spine is stretched more while bending the knees, and this helps the circulation of blood round the waistline.

This is the plough pose. Come into a salambha sarvangasana while keeping your chin locked in place and the arms outstretched on the floor over the head. Then relax the chin and bring the legs down until they rest on the floor over your head. The knees are straightened and the hands are outstretched, straight and away from the rest of the body with the fingers interlocked. Stay here breathing easily for thirty seconds. Then slowly relax out of the pose. Precaution:  Asthma and high blood pressure Pregnancy, Back pain. Benefits: Stretches the neck, back, and shoulders. Can relieve indigestion. Stimulates the thyroid gland, abdominal organs, and digestion.

This is a reclining pose where you hold onto the big toe. Lie flat on the ground with your legs stretched out, the knees straightened. Inhale and stretch the left leg so the it is perpendicular while the right leg is straight on the floor and the right hand is on the right thigh. With the left arm raised catch the left big toe between the left thumb and two left forefingers. Then raise the head on an exhale and pull the leg toward the head and trunk. Try and touch the chin to the left knee. Stay here for about thirty seconds breathing easily. Now, take your left hand and left leg and stretch them to the left side until both rest on the floor with the left leg at a right angle to the right leg. Now inhale and come out of the pose. Rest and repeat this on the other side. Precaution: Benefits: The legs will develop properly by the practice of this asana. Persons suffering from sciatica and paralysis of the legs will derive great benefit from it. The blood is made to circulate in the legs and hips where the nerves are rejuvenated. The pose removes stiffness in the hip joints and prevents hernia.

This is an unsupported sarvangasana. Lie on your back on the floor with your legs stretched out and your palms facing down on the ground by the sides of the legs. Breathe easily and then on an exhale bend the knees and take the legs to the stomach until the thighs are pressing into the stomach. Breathe and raise the hips off the floor on an exhale. Support the hips by bending your elbows so they are flat on the ground with your hands on the back of your hips. Raise the trunk off the ground until it is perpendicular to the ground. Your chest should be pressing into your chin. Exhale and stretch the legs straight up so they are pointing to the ceiling. Keep stretching the body upwards until only your head, shoulders and backs of the upper arms and elbows are resting on the ground and supporting your weight.  Then release the arms and stretch them out on the ground so they extend over the head while still resting on the floor. Then finally stretch them towards the legs as if you are reaching for your toes, keeping them tightly by the side of the body. Stay here breathing easily for thirty seconds. Then slowly come out of the pose. Precaution:  People with high blood pressure, heart conditions, inflammation of the ear, weak eye capillaries, severe near-sightedness, problems in the pituitary or thyroid glands, arteriosclerosis, cerebral or other thrombosis, severe asthma, tuberculosis, cold or sinusitis, excessively impure blood, slipped disc, weak spine or vertigo should not practice this asana. Benefits: Entire body is toned by an increase in the flow of blood. Speedier recovery from general weakness. Mother of asanas Low blood pressure. Strengthens the neck muscles and brings a rich supply of blood to the brain  thyroid and parathyroid glands. urinary disorders and uterine displacement, menstrual trouble, piles and hernia. It also helps to relieve epilepsy, low vitality and anemia. Activates the abdominal organs and relieves people suffering from stomach and intestinal ulcers, severe pains in the abdomen and colitis.

This pose is named after Lord Vishnu resting on the couch. Start by lying flat on the mat and then turn onto your left side. Raise the head and rest it on the left hand, the left elbow on the ground. Then raise the right knee, bend it and catch the right big toe between the right thumb and index and middle fingers of the right hand. Straighten the right leg and right arm while exhaling and hold the pose for about thirty seconds while breathing easily. Then slowly come out of the pose and relax. Precaution: Benefits: Strengthening Pelvic region. Hamstring and quadriceps muscles are toned. Good for backaches and prevents the development of hernia.

This is the reclining angle pose. Sit on the floor with your legs stretched out in front of you. Roll back on the floor until you are fully reclined. Now raise the legs up and take the feet over your head until they touch the ground. Reach out with your hands and hold onto the big toes of the corresponding feet. Part the legs as far apart as you can while the arms are resting on the floor. Stay here for about thirty seconds breathing easily. Then come out of the pose and relax. Precaution: People with high blood pressure, heart conditions. Benefits: Tones the legs and helps to contract the abdominal organs.

This is the bridge pose. You must start by lying on the ground. Bend the knees and place them with the feet on the floor and the knees pointing to the ceiling. Raise the back off the floor with the shoulders and head still on the ground. Support your back by placing your palms on it. Try and straighten your legs so they are stretched out with your legs together. Stay here breathing easily for thirty seconds and then lower back down. Precaution: Neck and Pregnancy. Benefits: Opens and expands the Strengthens the mid and upper Stretches the entire Increases circulation to the thyroid Energizes the Relieves low-back tightness.

This is the cockerel pose. Sit in padmasana. Put your hands through the space between the thighs and calves. Push the hands down until the elbows and then press through the hands so that your whole body lifts off the ground and you exhale. Stay here breathing easily for as long as you can. Then lower down slowly and come out of the pose. Precaution: Heart conditions, high blood pressure, prolapse, hernia or back pain. Benefits: strengthens the wrists and abdominal walls, arm and shoulder muscles, and opens the chest. Improves a sense of balance and stability.

This pose is named after the Hindu monkey God. Start in a kneeling position and place the palms on the floor on either side of the body. Lift the knees and bring the right knee forward and the left knee back. Stretch both the legs. Then try to press the hips and legs into the ground. Try and do a full split with the back thigh of the front leg and the front thigh of the back leg touching the ground. Bring your hands into Anjali mudra and try and stay here breathing easily for thirty seconds. Then slowly come out of the pose. Precaution:  Knee pain, Hamstring or groin injury Benefits: Stretches the hamstrings and hip flexors. Stabilizes and balances the deep hip muscles. Helps relieve sciatica pain. Strengthens the spinal and abdominal muscles.

This is the cowherd pose. Come into a padmasana pose and then stretch your arms out so they’re on the floor. Balancing on your hands, raise your hips off the floor. Rise up from the trunk so it is straight and vertical and try balancing on the knees. Try and take your hands off the ground and bring them into Anjali mudra. Try and hold this position as long as you can while breathing easily. Slowly relax and come out of the pose. Precaution: Skip Who Having Knee Problem. Benefits:  Improve sense of balance. The tail bone gets elasticity.

This is the spinal column pose. Sit on the floor with your legs stretched out in front of you. Bend both knees so the feet are flat on the ground. Then separate them so you can hold on to the respective big toes using the thumb and first two fingers of your hands. Slowly lean back as you balance on the buttocks. Straighten the legs and arms and raise the legs upwards. Now, keep the spine straight and separate the legs as far from each other as possible. Stay here while gazing at a fixed point and breathing easily. Hold this pose for about thirty seconds and then come out of the pose. Precaution: Should not be practiced by people with high blood pressure, heart ailments, slipped disc, sacral infections or sciatica. Benefits: Tones the abdominal organs, especially the liver, and strengthens the abdominal muscles. Stimulate intestinal peristalsis, alleviating constipation. Strengthens the muscles of the back and helps to realign the spine. Remove tiredness from the legs, giving a feeling of lightness and balance.

This is the full boat pose. Sit on the floor with your legs stretched out in front of you. Your hands should be resting on the floor, palms face down, next to the hips. Then balancing on the buttocks, raise the hands until they are parallel to the ground. Raise the legs straight off the ground so they are about 45 degrees off the floor. Make sure the knees are straight. Now stay here breathing easily for about thirty seconds and then return to the seated pose with your legs and hands resting on the floor. Precaution: Who having Pregnancy or any injury should skip this practice. Benefits:  Strengthens the thighs, hips, abdominal muscles, and back; targets the core musculature. Stimulates digestion. Builds balance and concentration. Effective on the intestines.

This is a seated twist names after mythological character Drona’s father. Sit on the ground with your legs stretched out in front of you. Bend both legs and move them back towards the right side of the body. They will be facing away from the body and resting near the right hip. Your buttocks will be on the floor. Now turn forty-five degrees to the left from the trunk. Take your right hand and place it on the outer side of the left thigh, near the left knee and then you can wedge the right hand under the left knee with the palm to the floor. Exhale and take the left hand behind the back, trying to clasp the right upper arm with the left hand. Turn your neck to look over the right shoulder. Stay here breathing easily for thirty seconds. Then come out of the pose and relax. Then you can repeat it on the next side. Precaution: Acute knee concerns and Acute spinal concerns, should avoid this practice. Benefits: Stretches and strengthens the low spine. Stretches the neck, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles. Massages the internal organs. Improves digestion. The knees and shoulders become flexible

This is the half bounded lotus west intense stretch. It is a forward bend. Sit on the ground with your legs stretched out in front of you. Bend the left knee and bring it into half lotus pose so the left foot is close to the navel, resting on top of the right thigh.  The left knee rests on the floor. Now reach your right hand upwards and your left hand behind the waist. Then bend the trunk forward from the hips. Try and place the forehead, then mouth then chin on the right knee. Simultaneously, reach for the right foot with your right hand. Stay here breathing easily and after about thirty seconds slowly come out of the pose. Precaution: Acute knee or back pain. Benefits: Knees become flexible. Blood is made to flow round the navel and the genital organs. Recommended for persons with rounded and drooping shoulders.

This is the seated mountain pose. Sit comfortably in padmasana. Make sure your back is erect and relaxed and your neck is long and not stiff. Raise your hands above your head and interlock your fingers and turn your palms towards the sky. Press upwards through your hands so that you are stretching through your upper body, shoulder blades and floating ribs. Breathe evenly here as you hold the pose for about thirty seconds. Then slowly come out of the pose by unlinking your hands and bringing them back down. Precaution:  Who having knee pain should not practice this pose. Benefits: remove stiffness in the shoulders.  Helps movement and to develop the chest.  Abdominal organs are drawn in and the chest opens fully.

This is the lion gesture. Sit on the ground with your legs stretched out in front of you. Rise up and place the bent right knee under your body with the right foot under the left sitting bone. Then place the bent left knee under the right sitting bone. The left ankle is under the right. You will be seated on your heels. Your toes will be pointing backwards. Keep the back erect and place the right and left palms on the respective knees. Open your mouth and stick out your tongue so that it touches the chin, or stick it out as far as you can. The gaze should be at eyebrow centre and you can stay here for thirty seconds breathing through the mouth.  Precaution: Should not practice who having cardiac problem. Benefits: Remove foul breath and cleans the tongue. Good for stammerers. Helps to master the three Bandhas.

This is known as the yoga gesture or psychic union pose. Start in padmasana, which is a seated pose with your arms intertwined and locked behind your back. Keep your eyes closed and relax, concentrating on the mooladhara chakra. Inhale and observe the breath rise from mooladhara to the ajna chakra. Hold the breath as you concentrate on the ajna chakra. Exhale and then fold forward from the hips. Bring your forehead to touch the floor as you expel all the air from your lungs. Feel as the breath moves from the ajna to the mooladhara chakra as you stay here for a few seconds concentrating on the mooladhara chakra. Now inhale and rise back up as you are aware of the breath moving from mooladhara to ajna chakra. Exhale and move your attention down to the mooladhara chakra. Try to do this entire exercise for three to ten rounds. Precaution: who suffering from sciatica, high blood pressure, pelvic inflammatory disease or any other serious abdominal ailment should avoid this practice. Benefits: Massages the abdominal organs and stretches the back.  Preparatory practice for meditation.  It relieves anger and tension, inducing tranquillity. It develops awareness and control of psychic energy and is used to awaken manipura chakra.

This is the half spinal twist. First sit on the floor with the legs stretched out in front of you. Bend the left knee, place it on the ground and sit in the left foot so the heel is under the left buttock. Then bend the right knee and lift the right leg and keep it by the outer side of the left thigh. The outer right ankle touches the outer left thigh. Keep the right shin perpendicular to the floor.  Turn ninety degrees to the right until the left armpit touches the outer side of the right thigh. The armpit should then come over the right knee. Bend the left elbow and place the left wrist behind the waist. Exhale and move the trunk until there is no space between the left armpit and the right knee. Turn the neck to look over the left (or right) shoulder. Breathe and hold the pose for about thirty seconds. Come out of the pose and repeat it on the other side. Precaution: Pregnant women should avoid this practice. People suffering from peptic ulcer, hernia or hyperthyroidism should only practice this pose under the guidance of a competent teacher. People with sciatica or slipped disc should not practice it. Benefits: It tones the nerves of the spine, makes the back muscles supple, relieves lumbago and muscular spasms, and reduces the tendency of adjoining vertebrae to develop inflammatory problems and calcium deposits. the secretions of the adrenal gland, liver and pancreas, and is beneficial for the kidneys.

This is the bounded angle pose. First sit on the floor with the legs stretched out in front of you. Bend your knees. Bring the feet closer to the trunk of the body. Join the heels and soles of the feet and grasp the feet and bring them towards the perineum. Widen the thighs and make sure that the knees are touching the ground. Make sure your spine is erect. Interlock the hands around your feet and bend forward from the lower back on an exhale. Try and touch your forehead to the floor and then, if possible, touch the chin and then the mouth to the floor. Stay here breathing easily for about thirty seconds. Then relax back up. PRECAUTION: Knee, hip, or groin injury. BENEFITS: It relieves sciatic pain and prevents hernia. If practiced regularly, it relieves pain and heaviness in the testicles. The pose is a blessing to women. Irregular menstrual periods and helps the ovaries to function properly. It is found that pregnant women who sit daily in this pose for a few minutes will have much less pain during delivery and will be free from varicose veins.

This is the wide angled seated forward bend pose. First sit on the floor with the legs stretched out in front of you. Now widen the distance between the legs as much as you can. Reach forward and grasp the toes with the respective thumb and first two fingers of your hand. Keep the spine erect as you breathe easily. Then exhale as you bend forwards and try to touch your forehead to the ground. If possible try and place the chin on the floor. Then release back up gently. PRECAUTION: Back pain or knee injury. BENEFITS: Stretches the hamstrings and helps the blood to circulate properly in the pelvic region and keeps it healthy. It prevents the development of hernia of which it can cure mild cases and relieves sciatic pains. Since the asana controls and regularizes the menstrual flow and also stimulates the ovaries, it is a boon to women.

This is the half boat pose. First sit on the floor with the legs stretched out in front of you. Link your fingers behind the back of your head. Exhale and recline the trunk while you raise both legs off the floor. Here you are resting only on the buttocks, keeping the knees straight and the legs at an angle of roughly thirty five degrees. Hold this pose as you breathe easily for thirty seconds. Then slowly release back down to the ground. PRECAUTION: Pregnancy or injury. BENEFITS: Ardha Navasana works on the liver, gall bladder and spleen. In the beginning, the back is too weak to bear the strain of the pose bring life and vigour to the back.

This is a seated position and is named after the sage Mariachi. First sit on the floor with the legs stretched out in front of you. Bend your left knee and place the left foot flat on the floor and the calf should touch the back of the thigh. Exhale and turn the spine ninety degree to the left and bring the right arm so it is over the left thigh. The right shoulder should be beyond the left knee, stretched out forwards. The left arm is behind the back. Turn the spine more to the left and stay here for thirty seconds breathing easily. You can try to clasp the hands behind the back if possible. Then come out of the pose and repeat it on the other side. PRECAUTION: Pregnancy and who have undergone abdominal surgery should not do. BENEFITS: By the regular practice of this asana, splitting backaches, lumbago and pains in the hips disappear rapidly. The liver and the spleen are contracted and so are toned and cease to be sluggish. The muscles of the neck gain power. Sprains in the shoulder and displacement of the shoulder joints are relieved and the shoulder movements become free. The intestines also benefit from this asana. It also helps to reduce the size of the abdomen.

This is the cow faced pose and is a seated pose. First sit on the floor with the legs stretched out in front of you. Bend your left knee and sit on the left foot and then bend the right leg and bring it to rest on top of the left. The heels should be touching and the seat should be raised. Raise the left arm over your head and bend it at the elbow and place it behind the nape of the neck. Lower your right arm, bend it at the elbow and place it between your shoulder blades. Try and clasp both your hands together. Hold the position for about thirty seconds as you breathe comfortably with your neck erect and looking ahead. Unclasp the hands, change the top leg to make it the bottom leg and then repeat the pose on the other side, reversing the hands. PRECAUTION: Hip replacements Shoulder injury. BENEFITS: Cures cramp in the legs and makes the leg muscles elastic. The chest is well expanded and the back becomes erect. . It relieves backache, sciatica, rheumatism and general stiffness in the shoulders and neck, and improves posture by increasing energy, awareness, and generally opening the chest area.