Change your Perspective with these Inverted Yoga Poses

Everyone wants to get a new perspective on things once in a while, and there is nothing like standing on one’s head to provide a fresh new outlook on life. Yoga practitioners have long understood the importance of balance for both the mind and the body, and they have created a number of inverted postures designed to soothe the mind and heal the body.

These powerful positions can help to strengthen the back, the legs, the shoulders, and other parts of the body, as well as helping to combat fatigue and improve flexibility. Some of the most popular inverted yoga postures include:

• Sirsasana or Headstand – The headstand is one of the most basic of all yoga positions, and it is considered to be one of the best postures for promoting full body awareness and providing full body benefits. Classic yogis have long used this position as a meditation technique and as a pathway to healing.
• Bakasana or Crane – The crane posture helps to improve balance and strength in the arms, the hands, the shoulders, and the abdominal muscles. This position also helps to strengthen and stretch the back muscles.
• Sarvangasana or Shoulder Stand – In the shoulder stand position the body rests on the shoulders, helping to promote strength and flexibility in the shoulder muscles. This position also helps to strengthen and tone the abdominal muscles.
• Adho Mukha Vrksasana or Hand Stand – This position uses the hands to support the weight of the body, making it an important exercise for not only yoga but many sports and athletic pastimes as well. This position helps to build strength in the arms and the wrists, making it a favorite with amateur and professional athletes from many different sports.

While it can take a while for newcomers to the world of yoga to master some of these inverted positions, they are important to building the strength and flexibility that is needed to enjoy yoga to its full potential. As with many yoga postures, it is a good idea to perform inverted postures in the presence of a certified yoga instructor. This will help to ensure that the poses are being done correctly and will also help to reduce the chance for injury.

By Suzy Bennett; All Rights Reserved @2017