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I have been on a massive yoga and Pilates kick lately – taking advantage of every Groupon and Living Social deal in the land! I have been really loving my hot yoga classes the past few weeks and I wanted to share with you my favorite yoga poses!
1- Eagle Pose – I love working on my concentration and balance with this pose, specifically trying to go deeper into the sitting motion, which is hard!
Benefits
- Strengthens and stretches the ankles and calves
- Stretches the thighs, hips, shoulders, and upper back
- Improves concentration
- Improves sense of balance
2- Garland Pose – At my hot yoga studio we call this “yoga pose” for some reason. Sometimes I have to use a block to sit down farther depending on my flexibility for the day, but I love how this strengthens and stretches my legs.
Benefits
- Stretches the ankles, groins and back torso
- Tones the belly
3- Dancer’s Pose – I love how strong I feel in the stomach with this pose. It is also very pretty to look at and makes me feel super feminine!
Benefits
- Stretches the shoulders and chest
- Stretches the thighs, groins, and abdomen
- Strengthens the legs and ankles
- Improves balance
4- Happy Baby – I love relaxing in this pose! It’s just fun to do!
Benefits
- Gently stretches the inner groins and the back spine
- Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and fatigue
5- Crane Pose – This pose I struggle with but love so much. It’s such a challenge for me to focus and keep my arms strong but I love trying to hold myself up in this pose! I also think it looks pretty bad a$$.
Benefits
- Strengthens arms and wrists
- Stretches the upper back
- Strengthens the abdominal muscles
- Opens the groins
- Tones the abdominal organs
6- Child’s Pose – Who doesn’t love this pose? It’s my safe place.
Benefits
- Gently stretches the hips, thighs, and ankles
- Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and fatigue
- Relieves back and neck pain when done with head and torso supported
7- Plow Pose – I love this stretch for my back and the fact that it’s the gateway to all headstands!
Benefits
- Calms the brain
- Stimulates the abdominal organs and the thyroid gland
- Stretches the shoulders and spine
- Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause
- Reduces stress and fatigue
- Therapeutic for backache, headache, infertility, insomnia, sinusitis
8- Tree Pose – With this pose I feel so grounded and love trying to reach higher with each breath.
Benefits
- Strengthens thighs, calves, ankles, and spine
- Stretches the groins and inner thighs, chest and shoulders
- Improves sense of balance
- Relieves sciatica and reduces flat fee
9- Corpse Pose – My favorite part of meditation at the end of each practice. It’s a kind of weird name for it though, I must admit.
Benefits
- Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression
- Relaxes the body
- Reduces headache, fatigue, and insomnia
- Helps to lower blood pressure
10- Reclining Bound Angle Pose – This is how I sit and relax before each class. I love how it feels and it calms me down from the craziness of the day!
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Those are just a few of my favorite yoga poses and their benefits as found in Yoga Journal. I really love how I feel after a yoga class and I love testing my body and seeing how far I can push myself with each pose – but those are by far my top 10 favorite poses that I look forward to in each class!
What are your top 3 favorite yoga poses? Why do you like them?
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8 Comments
Excellent guide!! My favorites:
1.) Twisting half-moon = tests my balanc
2.) Cobra = stretches my front body after ab work
3.) Dancer's pose = stretches my legs
My favorite pose is pigeon. I love how it stretches my hips and inner thighs. Second is triangle pose, for the hamstrings. Third, like you, is corpse pose. After a yoga class is one of the few times I can lay still and just 'be', without my brain going a million miles a minute. I am a big believer in yoga. I would love to try hot yoga, but there isn't anywhere near me that offers it.
I really love pigeon pose. Always a great stretch!
I love tree and pigeon pose they make me feel strong and get a good stretch.
My favorite is the Child's Pose, feels so good on my lower back after a good workout! I wish I could do all the poses listed, can you?
My favorites are corpse pose and chaturanga. 🙂 I used to have trouble with chaturanga but now I feel strong and can do it pretty well!
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