Top YOGA Postures for Beginners

I can remember the first time I learned MOUNTAIN POSE, it was empowering and ever since I have thoroughly enjoyed this posture.  In it's simplicity it captures so much of what yoga means; feeling grounded, opening of the heart, standing tall with purpose, focused with a strong dristi point (focus) and palms forward reading to receive.  Attention drawn to steading breathing, calming the mind and strengthening the spirit.

Unless you have a very specific back injury, I highly suggest doing CAT/COW everyday.  Moving the spine in and out of Flexion and Extension, articulating the spine from the crown of your head to the tip of your tail bone.  Allow your breath to dictate your pace and flow of your movement.  When you extend into Cow you can look up with your eyes, they are muscles too and stick your tongue out and add some primal noise from your gut. 

BHADA KONASANA, I just like to say it for starters, come on try it, it makes you smile.  But seriously this is a fantastic way to open your hips.  The hip is surrounded with muscles and ligaments and as we age the hips can get tighter.  So this is a very worthwhile stretch but also it is a gateway for many more challenging poses. 

Well, it just wouldn't be right to leave out DOWN WARD FACING DOG but I want to state this can be tough on the wrists and the shoulders so don't over do it.   A great way to start learning this pose is against the wall, it is a little kinder on the body and can help build a better dog.  You should feel a stretch all the way down the back of the legs - yum!

Balance is something we are all searching for and it can be found in one simple posture; the TREE pose.  I love the image of being an oak tree so grand, wise with age and firmly rooted into the earth.  This is the perfect posture for calm and steady breathe, you need that when standing on one-leg. 

Life can not be all fun and stretch, there needs to be some work too, that's where the WARRIORS come into play.  Physically more challenging but so much more, this is about embracing your inner warrior, that each of us have that capacity within us.  Often people mix up Warrior I and II... Warrior I, hips are square to the front of mat, arms overhead.  Warrior II, hips are open to the side of your mat, arms shoulder height.  Warrior III, is a challenging posture and something to build up to.

In todays society we are often putting our body in a constant state of flexion, so it is important to move our body the opposite way, UPWARD FACING DOG will provide a fabulous opening stretch. 

Always, finish with Shavasana, CORPSE pose, chillaxing your mind, body and whatever your spirit beholds.

Namaste