Tag Archives: stature

Improve Your Posture with Yoga

Would you like to stand straighter or appear taller? Then read on, yoga can help. No matter what your actual height is, by correcting your posture you’ll add the attractiveness of extra elegance and poise. In reality, yoga is not going to make you grow, but it can noticeably lengthen your spine, improve your posture, making you look taller, thinner, and that will surely give you more confidence.

Postural problems are often caused by spending too much time each day slumped at your desk, hunched over a computer terminal at work, or driving a car. Confidently carrying yourself upright and walking with a nice stride, raises your stature in both height and overall appearance. And there are some yoga asanas (poses) that are sure to help you achieve that desired improvement and make you look slimmer, taller and more agile.  

Actualizing that near perfect posture with yoga asana…

Certain yoga poses when practiced regularly will not only tend to improve/correct your posture, but they may well be the solution to help you when shedding those extra pounds off your weight chart. Hold each and every asana for a few seconds in the beginning and gradually increase the time to a minute as you progress. The longer you can retain a yoga asana in its correct form (with focused attention and proper breathing), the greater your reward will be.

Here are some asanas to practice for postural improvements…

Paschima Namaskarasana (Reverse Prayer Pose) – This asana of doing namaskar from the opposite (back) side strengthens the shoulders, shoulder blades, arms all the way down to the frontal finger joints. When you practice this pose regularly your upper back and shoulders become more flexible and strong, lengthening and straightening your spine, as well.

Marjariasana (Cat/Cow Pose) – Based on a cat’s spine stretching exercises, regular practice of Cat/Cow Asana keeps your spine supple and strong, helping to ward off any injury. It relieves any tension in your lower back, purifies the blood and increases its flow to the spine and the internal organs.

Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward Dog Pose) – This dog-like stretching asana focuses mainly on the upper back. It calms the brain, reducing stress and depression when it’s done regularly. Downward Dog helps to eliminate back pain, insomnia, fatigue and even relieves menopause symptoms. Along strengthening the hands, legs, shoulders and calves this asana has also proven to be therapeutic for asthma, sciatica, and high blood pressure.

Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (Upward Dog Pose) – This asana greatly improves your overall posture while it strengthening your wrists, arms and spine. It energizes your chest, lungs, shoulders and abdomen while stimulating your internal organs. Regular practice firms up your buttocks.

Parivrtta parsvakonasana (Side Angle Pose with a Twist) – This asana plays an considerable role in healing, stretching and strengthening your legs, ankles, groins, chest, lungs, shoulders, spine and abdomen. Regular practice enhances stamina, improves digestion (eliminates acidity) and restores proper balance.

Purvottanasana (Inclined Plane Pose) – Done on a slanting plank, this pose strengthens your wrists, arms and legs. Furthermore, it works on your chest, shoulders and the front of your ankles. It also works well to offset fatigue.

Ustrasana (Camel Pose) – This pose centers on strengthening your wrists, ankles, thighs, groins, shoulders, spine, chest and your stomach.  It’s extremely helpful in improving posture; strengthening back muscles, hip flexors and it activates the internal organs in the abdomen.