Bikram Yoga ~ Benefits of Postures

Standing Pranayama Breathing

• Mental relaxation
• Detoxification
• Works the   nervous, respiratory and circulatory systems

Half Moon

• Helps lower back pain, constipation, obesity of stomach, bronchi distress, scoliotic,   deformities, frozen shoulders
• Works deltoid, trapezius, pectoralis major and hamstings
• Exercise the colon, pancreas and kidney

Awkward Pose

• Helps to open   pelvic area, alleves joint pain and arthritis of the knees, strengthens lower   limbs, relieves sciatica, improves flexibility in toes and ankles
• Works quadriceps and deltoids

Eagle

• Strengthens lower extremities, joint mobility for hip girdle and all 12 major joints. By creating pressure in the joints and releasing allows fresh blood supply to flow   in.
• Control of sexual energies, improves function of central nervous system

Standing Head to Knee

• Improves concentration, avoids sciatica by improving circulation and flexibility, reduces   diabetes, strengthens back muscles and nerves
• Works the muscular, skeletal, reproductive and digestive systems

Standing Bow

• Increases circulation to the heart and lungs
• Improves elasticity of the spine by compressing the spine
• Helps with lower back pain
• Opens diaphram and lungs

Balancing Stick

• Increases blood flow all over the body at the same time
• Clears arteries
• Builds strength in lower extremities
• Works the pancreas, kidney and spleen
• Works muscular, reproductive, nervous, and circulatory system

Separate Leg Stretching

• Helps for constipation, abdominal obesity and hyper-acidity
• Increases circulation to the brain and adrenal glands
• Good for small and large intestines

Triangle

• Good for kidneys
• Helps chemical imbalances in the system
• Helps colitis constipation, hip and back pain, spondilitis, general mobility and menstrual   disorders
• Cardiovascular benefits
• Works   circulatory, digestive, immune and reproductive systems

Standing Separated Leg Head to Knee

• Helps abdominal obesity, diabetes, thyroid, blood and sugar balance, pancreas and kidneys
• Works endocrine, reproductive, and digestive systems
• Works obliques, iliosoas, quads and deltoids, trapezius, biceps and triceps

Tree Pose

• Creates hip and knee mobility
• Releases abdominal tension
• Helps inflammation of the lower back

Toe Stand

• Creates balance in the body and the mind
• Strengthens stomach muscles
• Helps with arthritis, knee problems and gout pain
• Strengthens weak joints

Floor   Wind Removing Pose

• Helps   constipation, flatulence and hyper acidity
• Massages   ascending colon, descending and transverse colon

      The Cobra Series (Cobra,   Locust, Full-Locust and Bow)

• Works to compress   and open up the spine
• Each posture   works a specific section of the spine
• Creates spinal   changes, helps lower back pain, scoliosis and cervical   spondylosis

Fixed Firm

• Strengthens and   improves flexibility of lower spine, knees and ankle joints
• Helps to cure   sciatica, gout and rheumatism in the legs
• Helps varicose   veins
• Helps to cure and   prevent hernia

Half Tortoise

• Provides maximum   relaxation
• Cures   indigestion, constipation and flatulence
• Stretches lower   part of the lungs – good for emphysema and asthma
• Helps   diabetes

Camel

• Strengthens   muscles in the back and shoulders
• Produces maximum   compression of the spine, stimulating the nervous system
• Improves   flexibility of the neck and spine
• Relieves   backache
• Helps   kypho-scolitic deformities

Rabbit

• Stretches spine,   maximum extension – opposite of Camel
• Helps maintain   mobility and elasticity of spine and back muscles
• Nurtures the   nervous system, brings blood to the brain, helps cure depression
• Helps   diabetes
• Helps with colds,   sinus problems, chronic tonsillitis, sore throats and strep throat
• Good for thyroid,   parathyroid and larynx

Head to Knee with Stretching

• Helps to balance blood sugar level, especially good for diabetes
• Good for the immune system, stimulates the thymus
• Improves kidney function
• Increases circulation to the liver and the spleen, pancreas, thyroid, thymus and   intestines

Spine Twisting

• Only posture that twists the spine from top to bottom at the same time
• Improves flexibility of spine and hip joints
• Helps prevent slip discs
• Increases circulation and nutrition to spinal nerves, veins and tissues
• Helps sciatica
• Improves digestion
• Helps tennis elbow

Kapalbhati Breathing

• Helps to rid body of toxins
• Good for emphysema and other respiratory ailments
• Stengthens, massages and increases circulation to the abdominal organs and muscles,    including the diaphram
• Good against high   blood pressure and good for the heart

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