Yoga Moves

How To Devise Safe And Effective Yoga Moves

Yoga moves are an essential part of many yoga routines, partly because they help to balance the body and make it feel comfortable in the situation into which you have placed it, and partly because they help to gently stretch any muscles or joints which may be stiff. The exact moves you use will depend on the objective you are trying to achieve, and on which parts of the body you are able to move without discomfort. The starting position is always the most important factor in any yoga routine, as it is this which determines which moves are possible.

If you are trying to design a yoga routine to suit your own purposes, the first step will be to decide exactly what you want to achieve. If it is mental calm and a release from the pressures of the outside world, it will be essential to find a position of balance. This can be standing, sitting or lying on supports, but a position where you are supported gives you the best chance of becoming relaxed. Make sure that any part of your body which is injured or which has a physical problem is supported.

There is a far greater need to use moves in a routine which is designed to assist the physical body, and especially the muscles or the skeletal structure. It is common for yoga to be used in the treatment of arthritis, and for other joint problems. These movements need to be carried out with the body properly supported, and in this case it is common for the person to stand. This puts all of the weight on the feet, and takes it away from areas which may be less able to cope with it. Once this is done, the extent to which movement can be carried out painlessly will depend on how stiff your body is.

If you are planning to execute your yoga moves at the start of the day, you will need to be especially careful. It is not uncommon for muscles and joints to be extremely stiff upon waking, especially if you have lain in an uncomfortable position during the night. Do not be tempted to do too much too soon, and always be aware of what your body is capable of. There is no shame or defeat in having a much shorter exercise session than you are used to, because progress is never a straight line. In the coming days, you may be able to return to your previous level.

It is important that exercise moves are consistent, but it is never a good idea to get into the mindset of having to do a certain number of repetitions every day. This will be counter productive if your body stiffens and you are still trying to force your way through the routine. It is always much better to do five minutes consistently every day than a half hour ever week, but don't try to make up any exercise you have to lose because of feeling too stiff to complete the program. The only rule in yoga is to do what is right for your own well being.

The yoga moves which are right for your situation will depend entirely on your own circumstances, and will need to be worked out with them in mind. If you have a physical condition, you will need to make sure that your body is supported well enough to avoid pain in those areas. Moves can always be modified to accommodate any limbs which cannot move to the degree prescribed by the inventor of the routine, and changed to shorter versions of the same yoga moves.

Author: Marc Knox