Latest news with #AdhoMukhaSvanasana
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
5 Yoga asanas that help you connect with nature and elevate your inner peace
Yoga is renowned for its stress-reducing properties, quieting the mind, and overall physical well-being. Yet, beyond the physical asana and control of the breath, yoga is a way of living that brings inner calm and external peace. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Yoga promotes mindfulness, compassion, and awareness-based living and motivates one to consider their influence not only on themselves but on the larger ecosystem like animals, vegetation, and Earth. As Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, yoga guru and proprietor of Akshar Yoga Kendraa, explains, yoga, when practiced consciously, is a philosophy of living that is abounding in health, ecologism, and religiosity. "When you practice yoga consciously, you not only achieve balance within but also attune yourself to nature's beat," he says. 5 Yoga poses to fuel your body and mind According to 'The Ashokan Center', these five yoga poses that not just health and fuel body and mind but also enhance your sense of oneness with the planet. Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) This root pose awakens the whole body and quiets the mind. In Siddhaa Akshar's words, "Adho Mukha Svanasana teaches surrender and helps you reconnect with the Earth." How to do: Start on hands and knees, curl toes under, and bring your knees up off the floor. Extend the legs as far as possible while gently pushing your heels towards the mat. Relax your head down between your arms, letting tension disappear from the neck. Breathe deeply and hold for 10 seconds, feeling solid and centered. Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana) Bridge pose is also said to calm anxiety and stimulate digestion. This represents the bridging of inner peace and outer awareness. Instructions: Lie on your back with bent knees and feet hip-width apart. Press feet into the floor as you push hips up towards the ceiling. Weave fingers under back and stretch arms out along the mat. Open your chest and hold for 10 seconds breathing slowly. Eagle Pose (Garudasana) Eagle pose encourages coordination, concentration, and aids the nervous system. "Garudasana improves focus while encouraging body awareness," says Akshar. How to do: Stand with feet hip-width apart and transfer your weight to your left foot. Cross your right thigh over the left and hook your right foot behind the left calf. Cross arms in front with left over right and hands clasped together. Squat slightly, focus your eyes, and hold the pose before switching sides. Shoulder Stand (Sarvangasana) Source: Yogateket Or the "queen of asanas," this inversion relaxes the mind and gets the blood pumping. "It reboots the nervous system and clears the mind," says Akshar. How to do: Lie on your back with arms at your sides. Lift your hips and legs with your core, aided by your lower back with your hands. Stretch your legs up straight toward the ceiling with toes pointed. Hold for around 10 seconds, with steady, relaxed breaths. Tree Pose (Vrikshasana) Source: Yoga Journal A stability and calmness pose, tree pose represents growth and equilibrium. "As a tree that does not waver in seasons, the pose instills inner peace and concentration," writes Akshar. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now How to do: Stand and transfer weight onto your left leg. Position the right foot sole on the inner thigh of the left leg (not the knee). With hands clasped prayer-fashion at the chest, or arms raised overhead. Aloft, find a stationary point to look at and fix for 5 to 8 breaths. Reverse sides. Significance of Yoga Yoga naturally evokes a responsible lifestyle and awareness. It encourages individuals to make decisions that are sustainable, ethical, and in harmony with nature. It suggests being aware of the impact of our consumption, habits, and attitudes on the environment. By performing yoga regularly, humans become attuned to their environment and more willing to coexist with nature in harmony with the earth's natural rhythms. It creates a feeling of interdependence between one's well-being and the world's well-being and reminds them that they go side by side.
News18
2 days ago
- Health
- News18
Eco-Yoga: How Conscious Practice Can Heal Both You and the Planet
Last Updated: Yoga isn't just a path to inner peace, it's a mindful journey that nurtures the Earth through sustainable choices and daily intention. Yoga isn't just a path to inner peace—it's also a way to nurture the world around you. Embracing eco-yoga means aligning your wellness routine with environmentally conscious choices. It's about understanding that your daily habits—from the clothes you wear to the food you eat—have an impact on the Earth. 'Yoga teaches us to live with awareness, simplicity, and compassion," says Himalayan Siddhaa Akshar, author and founder of Akshar Yoga Kendraa. 'When you heal yourself, you begin to heal the planet. Yoga encourages a minimalist lifestyle and reminds us that we are a part of nature—not separate from it." From switching to sustainable yoga gear to adopting a plant-based diet, eco-yoga is about taking mindful steps toward balance, both within and beyond. 'It's not just physical exercise," Akshar explains. 'Practising yoga is a sacred offering to the Earth. It cultivates deep respect for all living beings and promotes a way of life that's gentle on the planet." 6 Simple Eco-Yoga Practices to Embrace Daily 1. Healing Walk Begin your morning with a barefoot walk on grass. Extend your arms shoulder-width apart, palms facing each other, and sync your breath with your steps. Start with 2–3 minutes, gradually increasing to 10. It grounds your body and centers your mind. 2. Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) From all fours, curl your toes under and lift your hips to form an inverted V. Try to press your heels toward the ground. Hold for 10 seconds. This pose improves blood circulation and helps calm the nervous system. 3. Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana) Stand tall and place your right foot on your left inner thigh. Raise your arms overhead with palms together. Gaze at a fixed point and hold for 5 seconds. This pose enhances balance, stability, and concentration. 5. Cat-Cow Pose (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana) On hands and knees, inhale as you arch your back and lift your chest (cow), and exhale as you round your spine and tuck your chin (cat). This sequence improves spinal flexibility and boosts energy flow. 6. Scorpion Pose (Vrschikasana) (Advanced) Start in a forearm stand. Walk your feet in, then kick up one leg at a time. Once stable, bend your knees and bring your feet toward your head. Hold for 5 seconds. This challenging pose builds strength and sharpens mental focus. By integrating these mindful movements and eco-conscious choices into your routine, you not only deepen your yoga practice but also contribute to the well-being of the Earth. Because true balance begins when we honour both body and planet.
News18
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Nargis Fakhri's Yoga Routine Is All About Strength, Balance And Flexibility
Last Updated: Nargis Fakhri took to her Instagram to share a snippet of her performing the three-legged downward-facing dog pose with utmost grace and flexibility. Nargis Fakhri's diet and workout regimen have always been the talk of the town. Known to be a health-conscious individual, the actress and model often shares glimpses of herself performing yoga asanas that inspire many to follow a healthier and better lifestyle. Now, the Housefull 5 actress took to her social media and posted a video of herself doing a yoga asana. Dressed in a grey tee and black leggings, she is seen performing three-legged downward-facing dog or Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana. The yoga asana, a variation of Adho Mukha Svanasana or Downward-Facing Dog Pose, is a deep hip-opening standing pose. It helps enhance hip and leg flexibility while also strengthening the upper body. Sharing the video, Nargis Fakhri wrote, 'Everything teaches you something – even the hard moments, even the quiet ones. Life whispers lessons when we slow down enough to listen." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nargis Fakhri (@nargisfakhri) Step 1: Get on your hands and knees on a yoga mat, with your hands shoulder-width apart and your feet hip-width apart. Step 2: Tuck your toes under and elevate your hips upwards to form an inverted 'V' shape. Step 3: Lengthen your spine and softly press your heels to the floor, keeping your arms straight and fingers spread wide. Step 4: Inhale deeply and slowly raise your right leg straight up behind you, maintaining your hips square to the floor and stretching your toes. Step 5: Press both hands and bring your belly towards your spine. Remember to breathe deeply and hold the pose for 3-5 breaths. Step 6: Exhale, lower your right leg, and return to the Downward Facing Dog position. Now, repeat the steps with your left leg. Three-legged Downward-Facing Dog Pose: Benefits Practising the three-legged downward-facing dog pose offers a range of physical and mental health benefits. This powerful yoga asana strengthens the legs and core while deeply opening the hips and shoulders, enhancing overall flexibility. Beyond the physical, it also sharpens focus, encourages mindfulness, and helps alleviate stress and anxiety. By actively engaging the core, this pose tones and strengthens the abdominal muscles and lower back, making it a holistic addition to any wellness routine. First Published: May 31, 2025, 18:07 IST
India.com
23-05-2025
- Health
- India.com
Start Your Anti-Aging Journey With THESE 8 Simple Yoga Poses For Lasting Health And Fitness Benefits
photoDetails english 2905017 Updated:May 23, 2025, 09:15 AM IST Yoga 1 / 10 In today's fast-paced world, maintaining youthfulness and fitness can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. However, incorporating simple yoga poses into your routine can help rejuvenate your mind and body, promoting a more youthful appearance and contributing to overall health. Here are eight easy yoga poses to get you started on your journey to looking younger and feeling great. Mountain Pose (Tadasana) 2 / 10 Start by standing tall with your feet together, arms at your sides. Inhale deeply while reaching your arms overhead, focusing on elongating your body. This pose improves posture, increases your confidence, and helps you feel grounded. Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana) 3 / 10 Start on your hands and knees, then lift your hips up and back. Keep your feet hip-width apart and your hands shoulder-width apart. This pose elongates the spine and strengthens the arms and legs, contributing to better circulation and a refreshed look. Cobra Pose (Bhujangasana) 4 / 10 Lie flat on your stomach, place your hands under your shoulders, and gently lift your chest while keeping your elbows slightly bent. Cobra Pose opens up the heart and chest, promoting better oxygen flow, which can brighten your complexion and enhance your vitality. Child's Pose (Balasana) 5 / 10 From a kneeling position, sit back on your heels and stretch your arms out in front of you, resting your forehead on the ground. This restorative pose calms the mind, relieves stress, and promotes relaxation, all essential for maintaining a youthful spirit. Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II) 6 / 10 Stand with your legs wide apart, turn one foot out, and bend that knee while extending your arms parallel to the ground. This pose builds strength and stability, helping to improve focus and vitality, giving you that energetic glow. Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana) 7 / 10 Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor, hip-width apart. Lift your hips toward the ceiling while squeezing your glutes. Bridge Pose opens the heart, reduces anxiety, and helps maintain hormonal balance, which can contribute to a youthful look. Cat-Cow Stretch (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana) 8 / 10 Begin on all fours, then alternate between arching your back (Cat) and letting your belly drop while lifting your head and tailbone (Cow). This dynamic movement enhances spine flexibility, alleviates tension, and encourages better overall function of the body. Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana) 9 / 10 Sit with your legs extended in front of you. Inhale as you reach your arms overhead, then exhale while bending forward to grasp your feet or ankles. This pose stretches the spine and encourages relaxation, helping to relieve stress and enhance mood. 10 / 10 Incorporating these yoga poses into your daily routine can significantly contribute to not only looking younger but also feeling healthier. Yoga promotes flexibility, strength, and mindfulness, all of which are essential for maintaining a youthful appearance. Start with a few of these poses each day, and you'll likely notice a positive transformation in both your body and mind. Embrace the journey of fitness and youthfulness through the beautiful practice of yoga!
NDTV
12-05-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Back Pain From Sitting On Desk All Day: Try These Yoga Asanas For Relief
Sitting at a desk all day especially with poor posture can definitely cause back pain. Prolonged sitting tightens the hip flexors, weakens the core and glutes, and puts pressure on the spine, all of which can lead to stiffness, muscle imbalances, and chronic back discomfort. Practicing yoga can help by stretching tight muscles, strengthening weak areas, and improving posture and circulation. It also encourages mindfulness and body awareness, helping you correct habits that contribute to pain. Regularly incorporating specific yoga asanas can relieve tension in the back, improve flexibility, and build core support to prevent further discomfort. Read on as we share yoga asanas and how to perform them for relief. Yoga asanas that help reduce back pain caused by prolonged sitting 1. Marjaryasana-Bitilasana Get on your knees and hands (How you would imitate a four-legged animal) Lift your back upwards, forming a mountain-like structure While you do that, make sure you push your face inwards, looking at your own torso Now, push your back inwards, forming a 'U' position with your back While you do that, look toward the ceiling Repeat mountain motion with face inwards and then 'U' structure with face upwards for a minute 2. Balasana Sit straight with your legs folded At this point, your feet are supposed to be facing upwards Now, slowly bend your torso forward on the floor At this point, your arms should be extending forward as well, as far as possible Your face should also be facing the floor as well as your palms Your calves, forehead, and palms should all be touching the ground in this position As it only stretches your body and is a resting pose, it provides comfort and relaxation Hold this position for 10-15 seconds and perform 4-5 sets daily. 3. Adho Mukha Svanasana Lay flat on the ground facing the floor Slowly lift your torso and form a mountain-like structure with your body Your palms need to be farther apart and reaching outwards (in comparison to your shoulders) On the other hand, your feet need to be placed next to each other At this point, the only body parts touching the ground should be your palms and feet Your face needs to be facing inwards and downwards, at the same angle as the arms Your body must form a triangle (your hands, hips, and feet being the corners) Hold this position for a few seconds and repeat 10 times at least 4. Bhujangasana Lie on the floor, face facing the ground Now, place your palms on your sides and slowly lift your torso At this point, the only body parts touching the ground should be your palms and lower body Hold this position for 30 seconds and release Repeat 3-4 times daily 5. Trikonasana Looking straight ahead and comfortably spaced apart on a level surface Your right foot should now be facing outside with the heel pointed inward The heels ought to be parallel to one another Take a deep breath in and bend your torso to the right at the hip while straightening your left arm While you wait, you can put your right hand anywhere you feel comfortable, such as your ankle, shin, or even the mat You can look up at your left palm if it's comfortable for you while keeping your head in line with your torso Allow the body to unwind a little bit more with each breath and repeat 10 times each side Practicing these regularly, even for a few minutes a day, can significantly ease back tension and restore mobility.
