ANIMATED HATHA YOGA POSTURES

Welcome to Animated Yoga Postures. Yoga Postures are different from other forms of exercise, such as, running, biking, or swimming, because postures are preformed with synchronized deep breathing. While the postures help to align your body's skeletal structure, and strengthen your muscles, the deep breathing fuels the postures, and at the same time, effects the state of your mind and your emotions. It has been the experience of students, who have practiced Yoga for awhile, that they may sometimes find themselves suddenly crying or just feeling very emotional during class. Yoga postures, and the deep rhythmic breathing, will often free blocked emotional energy and physical tension. Hatha Yoga Postures can therefore be very cathartic and emotionally healing.


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ANIMATED POSTURES

Click Any Box Below To View Animated Postures
1 Salutation to the Sun 2 Seated Angle Pose 3 Plough Pose 4 Shoulderstand Pose 5 Both Big Toe Pose
6 Upward Bow Pose 7 Frog Pose 8 Extended Side Angle 9 Headstand 10 Waist Roll
11 Body Straight Pose 12 Head to Feet Pose 13 Fish Pose 14 Expanded Leg Stretch 15 Camel Pose
16 Bridge Pose 17 Rock the Cradle 18 Cobra 19 Head Knee Pose 20 Yoga Sit Up
21 Side Bend Pose 22 Half Lord of the Fishes Pose 23 Pigeon Pose 24 Leg Warm-Up 25 Extended Hand to Big Toe
26 Lotus 27 Arm and Leg Raise Pose 28 Forward Bend 29 The Tree 30 The Warrior
31 The Intense East Stretch Pose 32 Balance Exercise 33 Corps Pose 34 Full Supine Stretch 35 Salutation to the Moon
36 The Butterfly 37 The Triangle 38 The Shooting Bow 39 The Bow 40 The Swan
To start your Yoga Program you should first read, Styles of Yoga, Yoga Traditions and the Belly Breathing page, as well the page titled Yoga Breathing, these are all accessible from the front page. The essays and animations, will give you an overview of what Yoga is all about, and they will show you how to properly breathe during a posture. You should then view the animations below, but be careful to read the instructions beside each posture before you try them. To help you to properly sequence these animated postures, and to deepen your understanding of them, I recommend buying the DVD called (Yoga A Beginners Guide), available in the Yoga Boutique. I made this particular DVD to help beginners sequence some of these animated postures, and to more clearly demonstrate them. This particular DVD, along with the animations and the essays, are all essential components of my personally designed (at home, Yoga start up progam). I invite you to use this site's many layers of relevent yoga information to start practicing Yoga in the comfort and privacy of your home today. I welcome your emails, if have any questions or problems. I would like you to use all the tools provided on this web site to learn Yoga, and don't be afraid to ask me questions, this is my class room and you are my students. Start Enjoying Yoga.

Please read the bottom half of this page before you begin to exercise.

Namaste Ava



HOW TO GET STARTED

Yoga postures affect every part of the body, stretching and toning muscles, joints, the spine, and the entire skeletal system. All the vital organs and glands are affected by the postures which stimulate and massage them. The whole body is benefited by yoga postures and the deep breathing which is done with them. Hatha Yoga unifies mind, body and spirit , bringing you to new heights of physical and mental well being.

To begin practicing hatha yoga, all you need is a quiet, warm and ventilated room with soft or natural light. Practice on a comfortable surface such as a carpet or a Sticky Mat, if you need help with your flexibility you may also want to purchase some Yoga blocks or a Yoga Belt which are available through the Yoga Boutique. You can wear anything as long as it does not impede your movements or bind too tight.

In Hatha Yoga your breathing is deepened and synchronized with the postures. The synchronized deep breathing allows you to relax into the poses. The poses themselves will only evolve into their intended form as your breathing deepens and your muscles begin to naturally relax, this breathing effect is what makes Hatha Yoga distinctive from other forms of exercise. Tension is released while in pose or during the exercise, therefore the postures will not leave you feeling fatigued or over exerted after your workout.

A Hatha yoga posture is called an Asana. There are three stages to each Asana, coming into the pose, holding the pose, and coming out of the pose. Come into the pose slowly and continuously, do not strain for the pose, instead deepen your breathing as an aid. Hold the pose for as long as is comfortable for you, the real work of an Asana is done while you hold the pose. Once you are relaxed in the pose adjust yourself for maximum stretch. Then stay quiet and motionless in the pose. When exiting the pose release very slowly, exhale deeply as you release.

Always start your workout slowly and feel your bodies tight areas, focus on the tightness and consciously relax the muscles. Soften the tightness with the aid of deep breathing, do not force the stretch before the muscle is ready. Concentrate on your breathing instead, lengthen your exhalations when you feel your muscles tightening. You should allow the muscles to relax into the poses very gradually. Be very alert to the overall condition of your body, do not hurry past its natural limitations in an attempt to do the poses correctly.

SEQUENCING THE POSTURES

When you practice Hatha Yoga it is important to follow a pattern of Asanas which will maintain the proper curvature of the spine. During a sequence the body is bent and stretched with pose, and then with a counter pose. Asanas should counter balance each other, so each series of Asanas should be followed by its opposite stretch. Asanas or postures which work primarily on one side of the body should then be repeated on the other side. Whether you are new to yoga or more advanced, proper sequencing of the postures is very important to the overall benefit of them. For a Simple Guide To Sequencing, please go to the POSTURES SEQUENCES PAGE found Under (THE BUTTERFlY GIF) on the front page. In the DVD called (Yoga Our Beginning Series) I demonstrate and explain 14 easy to preform, yet powerful postures, you can use this DVD to help you properly sequence the postures. I designed this DVD specifically to deepen your understanding of some important postures, to show you thier proper form, and explain thier purpose.

I encourage you to try Hatha Yoga on your own, but, if you have had injuries or any serious illnesses, please consult a physician before you begin any yoga program. Hatha Yoga exercise is safe when done correctly so please read the instructions beside each pose carefully.

Sensual Meditation

This meditation brings you into the moment and unites body with mind. Use this meditation to begin your yoga sessions. Sit comfortably, keep your eyes open. Begin to feel all your of senses. This should not be done in drowsy or detached fashion but rather in an alert and ready to take action frame of mind. Begin to listen to the sounds around you, feel the floor beneath you. Sense if your body is cold or warm, then become aware of those cool and the warm areas. Then visually survey your environment. Recognize the shapes and colors of the objects you see. What taste is in your mouth? What do you smell? Immerse your self in all your senses. Take your time, Absorb the world around you. This meditation should automatically give you a feeling of more power and control. Use it to place you squarely in the moment and fully in your body.

Try to set aside at least a half hour time for a session.

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The Animated postures displayed on this Web site are the sole property of Eden MultiMedia. No animation is to be downloaded off this site and viewed separately. Even though there is no charge to view our Yoga animations, full ownership remains with hathayogalesson.com and Eden MultiMedia under international copyright laws.
All Rights Reserved 2000 © Eden MultiMedia