Camel Pose (Ustrasana) How to do & Benefits

Camel Pose Yoga

                                Pronunciation -          us-tra-sa-na

                                Meaning – ‘Ustrasana’ is the Sanskrit word. Ustra means a ‘Camel’. 

                                                                                        And asana means 'Posture' or 'Pose'.

                                Difficulty – 3 out of 10.

How to do Camel pose  or  Ustrasana?

Steps –

        1) First stand on the knees. The distance between knees should be as shoulder width apart.

                  Take couple of deep breath and calm your mind.

        2) While exhaling slowly lean backward from waist only.

        3) Now grasp the left heel with left hand and right heel with right hand.

        4) Stay in this pose or Hold this pose for few seconds, with normal breathing.

                10 seconds are enough for beginner. 10 seconds to 1 minute is enough for everyone.

                Your breathing must be gentle and at normal depth, while doing this Yoga pose.

        6) Then slowly come to the starting position by releasing the pose.

Note –

        a) The distance between knees must not be wider than shoulder width-apart.

        b) Lean or Bend only from waist not knees & thighs.

        c) Do not rush to lean backward, slowly bend or lean backward.
        d) Breath through nostrils only while doing this pose.

Benefit –

        a) Camel pose strengthen hamstrings, thighs – especially inner thighs, Spine and back muscles.

        b) This Yoga pose, removes stiffness in neck, shoulder and open chest.

        c) This yoga pose, strengthen your arms and shoulder.

        d) This Yoga pose, increase blood flow to the eyes, head and scalp.

        e) This Yoga pose, helps to remove fatigue, laziness and improve focus.

Limitation –

        a) Those who have High / Low Blood Pressure or have heart problem shouldn’t try to do Camel pose.

        b) Those who have pain or injury in knees should avoid doing this Yoga pose.

Variation –

                 For more stretch in spine, you can put your hands on the floor or mat instead of grasping heels, as shown in image below.

Variation Camel Pose

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Peacock Pose (Mayurasana) How to do & Benefits

                                                
                                                                                                   Peacock Pose / Mayurasana

                              Pronunciation -          ma-yu-ra-sa-na

                              Meaning – ‘Mayurasana’ is the Sanskrit word. Mayura means a ‘Peacock’. 

                                                                                   And asana means 'Posture' or 'Pose'.

                              Difficulty – 5 out of 10.

                             “This is balancing yoga pose and requires concentration to do it.”

How to do Peacock Yoga Pose?

Mayurasana Steps –

How to do Mayurasana

                1) Sit in Vajrasana (Thunderbolt Yoga Pose).

                2) Place your hands close to your knees on the floor or yoga mat, fingers pointing towards the feet.

                          The distance between palms must not be more than 5 inch.

                3) Take couple of deep breath and calm your mind.

                          While exhaling bow down or bend, so your head touch to the floor.

                4) After bending, your elbows must be touch together.

                          Now keep your abdomen on the elbows.

                5) Now slowly straight & stretch the legs one by one.

                6) Now lift your both legs by shifting body weight on palms & elbow.

                          Now your whole body should / must be parallel to floor or mat.

                7) Stay in this pose or Hold this pose for few seconds, with normal breathing.

                          10 seconds are enough for beginner. 10 seconds to 1 minute is enough for everyone.

                          Your breathing must be gentle and at normal depth, while doing this Yoga pose.

                8) Then slowly bring back you lifted legs on the floor.

                          Release the pose and again sit in Vajrasana as starting position.

Note –

          a) Fingers must be pointing towards the feet.

          b) The distance between palms on the floor must not be more than 1 feet.

          c) Your elbows must be touched together & placed on abdomen, before you lift up your legs.

          d) After lifting your legs, your whole body should be in straight line or parallel to floor.

Benefit –

          a) Peacock yoga pose helps to strengthen abdomen muscles, digestive system and reproductive system.

          b) This Yoga pose, helps in preventing diabetes, piles & cholesterol.

          c) This Yoga pose, strengthen wrists, elbow, shoulder, spine, legs etc.

          d) This Yoga pose, helps to remove fatigue and laziness.

          e) Regular practice of Peacock yoga pose improves balance and co-ordination of the body.

Limitation –

          a) Those who have injury in wrist, elbow or shoulder should avoid doing Peacock Yoga Pose or Mayurasana.

          b) Those who are patient of Heart or High Blood Pressure should avoid doing this Yoga pose.

          c) Avoid this Yoga pose, if you are feeling like qualm or reel.

      Previous – Bridge Yoga pose (& variations of Wheel pose)                     Next – Camel Yoga Pose

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Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana) How to do & Benefits

Bridge Yoga Pose

                            Pronunciation -           setu-ban-dha-sa-na

                            Meaning – ‘ Setubandhasana ’ is the Sanskrit word. 
                                                                                 Setu-bandh means a ‘Formation of Bridge’. 
                                                                                      And asana means 'Posture' or 'Pose'.

                            Difficulty – 3 out of 10.

                                    This is variation pose of Wheel yoga pose.

                    * I will cover 3 different variations of Wheel Yoga Pose, in this same article.

How to do Bridge Pose  or  Setu bandhasana?

Steps –

How to do Bridge Yoga Pose

          1) Lie down on the back. As corpse yoga pose.

          2) Take couple of deep breath and calm your mind.

                    While breath – in, bend your knees and bring your feet close to buttocks.

          3) While breath – out, hold your ankle joints.

          4) Now take 1 deep breath – inhale and while exhaling slowly raise first your hip / buttocks then lower back. 
Keep your neck & shoulder on the floor.

                    If you want, you can release your grip around ankle joints & can put hands on the floor, like above pic.

                    Stay in this pose or Hold this pose for few seconds.    

                    10 seconds are enough for beginner. 30 seconds to 1 minute are enough for everyone.

          5) Then slowly bring back first your hip and then back .

                    Now release the folded legs and come to starting position as corpse pose.

Note –

        a) Your neck and Shoulder firmly touch to the floor or yoga mat.

        b) In step 4, do not hurry to lift buttocks and back.

        c) Do not try to hold this yoga pose beyond your capacity.

        d) You can place your palms on floor or keep grip on ankle joints, while doing Bridge Yoga Pose.

Benefit –

        a) Bridge yoga pose strengthen legs, buttocks, spine & back muscles, shoulders and neck etc.

        b) This yoga pose, stretches & strengthen abdomen, lungs and thyroid.

        c) This Yoga pose, stimulate thyroid & pituitary glands.

        d) This Yoga pose, helps to remove fatigue and laziness.

Limitation –

        a) Those who have back pain or neck pain also should avoid doing Wheel pose.

        b) Those who have high blood pressure & any cardiac problems should avoid doing this Yoga pose.

        c) Avoid this Yoga pose, if you are feeling like qualm or reel.

If your body flexibility level is extreme & regular yoga practioner -

* For advanced extreme flexibility yoga practioner,

Other Variations of Wheel Yoga Pose.

 a) You can lift your heels as shown in image below, for more stress in spine & upper body.

Wheel Yoga Pose Basic Variation

 b) You can lift off one leg from floor. Shift your weight onto one foot and raise another foot, as shown in image below. This variation of Wheel Pose called "Bridge pose with one leg up (Ekopada Dhanurasana plus)".

Wheel Yoga Pose Advance Variation

 c) You can lift off only one hand & can put it on chest. Shift your weight onto 1 hand & another on chest, it’s only for advanced flexibility, regular yoga practioner (Both legs & 1 hand must be on floor ☺).

Chakrasana Advance Variation

        Previous – Wheel Yoga Pose                                 Next – Peacock Yoga Pose

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Wheel Pose (Chakrasana) How to do & Benefits

Wheel Pose / Chakrasana

                         Pronunciation -           cha-kra-sa-na

                         Meaning – ‘ Chakrasana ’ is the Sanskrit word. Chakra means a ‘Wheel’.
                                                                             And asana means 'Posture' or 'Pose'.
                         Difficulty – 5 out of 10.

                      * Wheel pose also known as Upward bow pose.

                          This is great asana for full body. Instant full energy Yoga pose or asana.

How to do Wheel Pose  or  Chakrasana?

Steps –

        1) Lie down on the back. As corpse yoga pose.

        2) Take couple of deep breath and calm your mind.

                  While breath – in, bend your knees and bring your feet close to buttocks.

        3) While breath – out, bend your elbows and put palms near the shoulder facing floor, fingers pointing towards the feet, as shown in picture above.

        4) Now take 1 deep breath – inhale and while exhaling slowly raise first your hip / buttocks then back and after head off the floor.

                  Stay in this pose or Hold this pose for few seconds. 10 seconds are enough for beginner.

                  30 seconds to 1 minute are enough for everyone.

                  Do not stop breathing more than 3 second, while doing this pose.
                  Your breathing must be gentle and at normal depth, while doing this Yoga pose.

        5) Then slowly bring back first your hip then back and after head. This sequence is important.

                  Now release the folded legs & elbow and come to starting position as corpse pose.

Modification –

                 You can support your hands or feet on a pair of blocks to help yourself realise the full back-bend. Be sure to brace the blocks against a wall, as shown in image below.

Modification in Wheel Yoga Pose

Note –

        a) Slowly inhale & exhale in this pose. Do not stop breathing more than 3 second.

        b) In step 4, first raise hips then back and after head. This sequence is important.

        c) Do not try to stretch body beyond your capacity.

        d) Your palms must be rest on floor and fingers pointing towards the back.

Benefit –

        a) Wheel yoga pose strengthen legs, buttocks, spine & back muscles, shoulders, arms and wrists etc.

                   In short, this yoga pose, Strengthen total body.

        b) This yoga pose, stretches & strengthen abdomen, lungs and thyroid.

        c) This Yoga pose, stimulate thyroid & pituitary glands.

        d) This Yoga pose, helps to remove fatigue and laziness.

Limitation –

        a) Those who have back pain or neck pain also should avoid doing Wheel pose.

        b) Those who have knee-joint pain or ankle-joint pain should avoid doing this Yoga pose.

        c) Avoid this Yoga pose, if you are feeling like qualm or reel.

Variation –

                           If you are beginner and unable to do this Yoga pose, then you can try Bridge Yoga Pose & other variations -> Watch Next article.

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If your body flexibility level is extreme & regular yoga practitioner -

* For advanced extreme flexibility yoga practitioner,

 a) You can lift your heels as shown in next Special variation article. (Wheel pose Variations)

 b) Bridge pose with one leg up (Ekopada Dhanurasana plus). 
You can lift off one leg from floor as shown in next Special variation article. (Wheel pose Variations)

 c) You can lift off one hand & can put it on chest; it’s only for advanced flexibility yoga practitioner.

      Previous – Standing Half Wheel Pose                    Next – Variations of Wheel Yoga Pose

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