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Acheiving Balance through Yoga Asanas

© Jennifer M. Witkowski

The physical exercises/postures in yoga, called asanas, benefit the practitioner by toning the muscles, increasing flexibility, and developing balance and coordination. Achieving and developing balance aids the individual not only during the practice of the yoga asanas themselves, but also in everyday life. Juggling heavy packages or bags of groceries, reaching for objects placed on high shelves, or even just manuevering through a crowded subway are just a few examples of the activities in everyday life whioch require a good sense of physical balance. Achieving good physical balance greatly reduces the chance of injury caused by trips, slips, and falls. A few minutes of yoga practice a day can help prevent weeks, or even months, of lost work time due to injury.

Although nearly all of the asanas practiced in the various schools of yoga assist in achieving balance, certain postures in particular help develop this skill. Examples and explanations of two of these postures follow. Although it is always beneficial to practice yoga at an accredited school, yoga can be practiced alone, and you can try these exercises yourself at home. Read through the directions for each asana a few times, then try them for yourself to begin working on your balance.

Each of these asanas is practiced in a standing position. Before moving your body into each pose, take a few moments to "center." Centering allows the muscles to relax and move into the poses more easily. Centering also focuses your concentration making balance possible. To center yourself, stand with your feet shoulder width apart, plams placed in prayer position at heart center. Take a deep breath inhale through your nose and exhale out the mouth. Focus your eyes on a point approximately 3-4 feet away from you. Continue breathing in this fashion until you feel relaxed and focused only on yourself in the moment. When you have achieved this sense, you are ready to begin the asanas.

The Dancer Pose

Begin by raising your right arm forward, elbow straight. Extend the arm until your upper arm is even with your nose, palms faced down, fingertips extended. Bend your left leg at the knee, and clasp your ankle behind you with your left hand. Keep your eyes focused forward and find your balance. Slowly lean forward slightly, pulling upward on your left leg, stretching the quadriceps (front of the thigh). Hold this position, breathing shallowly for 20-30 seconds, or for as long as you are able. Repeat this sequence with the other side (left arm, right leg).

The copyright of the article Acheiving Balance through Yoga Asanas in Yoga for Beginners is owned by Jennifer M. Witkowski. Permission to republish Acheiving Balance through Yoga Asanas in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.