(Photo by Thao Le Hoang on Unsplash)
Yoga does far more than just tone muscles and burn calories. The practice involves a total mind-body workout that combines strengthening and stretching poses with deep breathing and meditation. The word “yoga” even means “to join” in Sanskrit, bringing mind and body together.
Vedic priests practiced yoga in Northern India over 3,000 years ago. Centuries later, modern medicine shows its tremendous benefits. Regular practice helps to strengthen muscles, improve flexibility, promote respiratory and cardiovascular health, reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain, improve sleep patterns, and enhance overall well-being and quality of life.
So roll out your mat, light some incense, and put on this playlist while enjoying the many benefits of this ancient practice for your body and mind.
Tumi Bhaja Re Mana - Maniah Vyas
Begin your practice in seated in easy pose (Sukhasanam) by crossing your legs and slipping each foot beneath the opposite knee. Breathe deeply through the nose down into the belly.
Sunrise at the Ganges - Karunesh
Awaken your practice with sun salutations (Surya Namaskar) to increase energy circulation and lengthen muscles through moving meditation.
Salala - Angelique Kidjo feat. Peter Gabriel
Sink into the goddess pose (Utkata Konasana) to open the hips and chest while strengthening the lower body.
Storms In Africa - Enya
Bring out your inner strength through a series of three invigorating warrior poses (Virabhadrasana I, II, & III) that build and stretch your legs, thighs, and core muscles.
Obiero - Ayub Ogada
Improve balance and calm the mind while standing tall and rooted in tree pose (Vrksasana).
Kaliyugavaradana - U. Srinivas
Strengthen the core and open up hips and shoulders while engaging the body in triangle pose (Utthita Trikonasana).
Mausam - Nitin Sawhney
Become more grounded and centered, relieve the lower back, and strengthen legs, feet, calves, and ankles while crouching in squat pose (Malasana).
Ganesha Mantra - Wah
Praise the elephant-faced Hindu god by locking hands in the Ganesha mudra to relieve tension and give salutations to the remover of obstacles.
Homage to Krishna - Deva Premal
Amritananda writes, “Love, universal and egoless, cosmic in dimension, is what one gets when one concentrates on the heart center. This is where one hears the call of Krishna.” Open your heart through cobra pose (Bhujangasana) to help align the spine and invigorate the kidneys and nervous system.
Adi Shakti - Ajeet Kaur
Bow in swan pose (Hamsasana) to open the hips while also detoxifying the lymph nodes in the groin, giving a boost to the immune system.
Medicine Woman - Lynda Cole
Lay on your back in corpse pose (Shavasana) to relax the entire body and close the practice in a state of rejuvenation.
