Standing - Week 6
As our bodies age and we cope with both physical and mental tensions that are part of life, an awareness of what good posture is can make a difference to our health. For our bodies to work efficiently structural health is needed. We need to be aware of when our posture is in need of adjusting and make those adjustments. We need to train our muscles and frame to support good posture without tiring.
Standing poses are invigorating, not only do they work the legs but they bring vitality to the body They help to boost the adrenals and the kidneys.
Tadasana is the basic standing yoga pose, Tadasana means mountain pose, the pose should feel solid, but not rigid. It should have a sound base.
Tadasana helps to reinforce the structure of the body to work evenly, it reinforces good posture.
Work the pose from the feet up, Even pressure on the base of both feet, play around with moving the weight from front to back, side to side and notice the effect is has further up the body. If the feet are not working evenly then the imbalance will reflect all the way up the body. Check the wear on the soles of your shoes, are they wearing evenly?
The knees should be straight but not locked, be aware of the hips, they should feel level.
The chest should be open, visualize the shoulder blades sliding down the back, this helps to create a feeling of space at the front of the body. This feeling of space is created by releasing the muscles down the back rather than letting the back arch.
Visualize the spine as a string of beads that are being pulled upwards through the crown of the head. The back of the neck should be long and the chin parallel with the floor.
Tadasana can be practised any time you are standing, it will help to promote awareness of good posture, which in turn ensures a better working body.
A sequence using a selection of standing and leg working poses is Salute the Sun.
A daily practice of Salute the Sun repeated 3 times offers the following benefits
Improves overall strength, flexibility and endurance. Helps slim the belly, hips and thighs, improves posture and balance and promotes graceful movement. Increases the strength and efficiency of the heart, improves circulation. Thoroughly cleanses the lungs of toxic gases and increases lung capacity. Tones the digestive system and abdominal organs. Stimulates the endocrine glands particularly the thyroid. Tones the reproductive organs, can help relieve PMT. Relieves tension, calms the mind and develops concentration. In addition something that I have noticed in class is that it makes you smile.
See you next week.