Want
to become thin without diets? Want to look beautiful and fresh all
day long? Want to improve your memory power, concentration and
intelligence? Will you not be impressed if I tell you a secret that is a 3-in-1
to do all the above, to achieve all this without feeling over-exhausted,
without needing to spend a lot out of your purse? Well, there is! But, it's
not a secret at all! You already know about it but most of you aren't just
applying it.
Some
of you guys might feel I'm too boring if you know I was talking about yoga.
But seriously, it is the most effective set of exercises- trust me...
It's not just what researchers have proved, in my own experience yoga is a very
good exercise that, unlike other physical fitness programmes that tires us,
actually gives peace and relaxation to both our body and mind.
I'm
a practitioner of the Patanjali yoga, which I had learnt from my trainer; guru.
One main principle of yoga, my guru used to tell me is that we must do only
as much as we can do with ease. We mustn't over-exhaust ourselves. It's also
important that we concentrate our whole mind in the exercises and do it slowly
and steadily. Here are some yogasanas that would help you ease the
pressure in your body and mind:
Warm-up exercises: These are small warm-ups to start with.
1) Side-to-side arm and waist rotations:
· Stand straight and look
front.
· Slowly lift both your
hands sideways, as given in the picture, and turn your body, till your hip from
side-to-side.
This
exercise helps to let the body sweat, and brings the tension out, giving you a
fresh feel to continue with your exercise. If you do this regularly, this would
also help you to reduce the fat in your belly.
2) Push and pull breathing exercise:
· Stand straight and look
front.
· Interlock the fingers of
your hands and place it on your chest.
· Take a slow and long
breadth in as you turn the inter - locked hands towards the front and stretch
them before you, as if you are pushing something.
· Breathe out slowly
as you bring your hands back to the chest.
· Repeat this as many times
as you are comfortable.
This
exercise helps you to slow down your breathing process and makes you body and
mind calm and peaceful.
Asanas that help in physical fitness: The following asanas help to maintain body weight
and gives your body beautiful size and shape (what we always want!)
1) Forward bending:
· Stand straight. Stretch
both your hands up.
· Bend down and touch the
ground.
NOTE: 1.Don't bend your knees while bending your body. 2. Don't try to touch the
ground if you are unable to reach it comfortably. If you keep practising the
exercise regularly, then you would see your progress...3. Touching the ground,
just beside your feet will be the most effective. [That's a little tough, but
keep trying!]
· Come back to normal
position after counting 10[or whatever you're comfortable with]
· Repeat this as many times
as you are comfortable.
This
exercise helps to bring out the fat in your tummy.
2) Chakrasana (backward bending):
For beginners:
· Stand straight. Place both
your hands on your hip.
· Look up and bend
backwards.
Advanced:
· Stand straight. Stretch
both hands up.
· Look up and slowly bend
backwards and touch the ground.
· Come back to normal
position. Repeat this as many times as you are comfortable.
This
exercise helps to bring out the fat in your tummy and also your thighs. It
makes your body flexible.
3) Arthakathi Chakrasana (side bending):
· Stand straight. Lift your
right hand sideways, shoulder level.
· Turn your palm so that it
faces upward.
· Slowly lift your hand up
and bend towards your left, letting your arm bend along with you towards the
left side, touching your ear.
· Slowly come back to the
normal position.
This
exercise helps to keep your waist in proper shape and make your body flexible.
To be continued...
