How to Practice Yoga Poses or Asanas

Yoga postures are designed to cleanse, tone and purify the body, which in turn affects the mind and your ability to practice pranayama and meditation without distraction. Not to mention of the other many health benefits like:

• Improved flexibility, stamina, strength and balance.
• Better functioning of your nervous and endocrine systems and internal organ.
• Enhanced quality of your breathing.

Tips to follow when practicing yoga poses:

• Choose poses that seem appropriate to your mood and energy level.
• Begin with gentler poses and work up to stronger ones.
• Breathe evenly through the nose throughout the postures.
• Never rush into and out of a pose.
• Never strain in a pose - if it hurts, stop.
• Don't habitually practise in front of a mirror. Focus on how the pose feels, not what it looks like.
• The postures should be both steady and soft.

How to Practice Yoga Breathing or Pranayama

In yoga breath is said to be the interface between the physical body and the mind. The power of breathing practice to change your state of mind is extremely strong. A breathing practice can last anything from two minutes to half an hour or more.

Tips to follow when practicing Breathing or Pranayama:

• Find a quiet place where you won't be distracted. If doing the exercises inside, make sure the window is open to allow plenty of fresh air into the room.
• At first practise pranayama lying down and then gradually aim to sit upright with your spine straight.
• Breathe evenly through the nose throughout the postures.
• Never strain your breathing in pranayama.
• Breathe deeply and slowly.
• Progress slowly and carefully.
• If you feel dizzy or light-headed, return to normal breathing.
• Ask a friend to stay with you when trying out a new technique.
• Do not rush things and practice all exercises as slowly as you can.

How to Practice Mudras

Mudras are positions (mostly of the hands) that affect the body's energetic system and the flow of prana (life energy) within it. Mudras are easy and safe to learn and use. The best time to practise Mudras is during the sitting phase after a posture and breathing session.

Tips to follow when practicing Mudras:

• Don't try hard - simply allow your fingers to touch lightly.
• Allow your mind and body to be still and quiet.