Video Tutorials: Yoga poses for beginners

Photo Credit: Alexander Huang via Flickr (Creative Commons)

Now that you know what the many health and benefits of yoga are, it is time to try and kickstart your practice. Below are some of the more common yoga exercises that you can do anytime and anywhere. As a general guideline, try to perform these yoga poses at least 2.5 hours after a meal -- it is recommended to do yoga on an empty stomach. 

Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar)

It is a series of eight flowing poses designed to improve breathing and blood circulation, tone the muscles, and for overall mind relaxation. This is best done in the mornings to warm your muscles up either to start the day or to start doing more challenging yoga poses.

Video by Yoga with Adriene via Youtube

Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana)

This is done lying down with knees bent and feet hip-distance apart on the floor. Slowly lift your hips and with legs, pressing down and hands resting on the floor. The main benefit of this pose is to relieve tension on the chest, neck, spine and hips.

Video from Howcast via Youtube

Bound Angle Pose (Baddha Konasana)

Opens up the hip and groin. Sit with knees bent and feet together. This pose will improve flexibility on your inner thighs and groin, and prepare you for longer seated meditation sessions. 

Video by yogaglow via Youtube

Corpse Pose (Savasana) with Diaphragmatic Breathing

This is the last pose in a yoga workout to restore and relax the body with deep nose breathing exercises.

Video by YJ Mag via Youtube

Meditation

This can down either sitting down or lying down. The key here is focusing on your breathing through the nose. Do this for two minutes in the beginning and working up your way to 5 or more minutes.

Video by expertvillage via Youtube

Check out the following video for a 20-minute yoga session for complete beginners:

Video by Yoga with Adriene via Youtube

So sit down, strike a pose, breathe and meditate because there is no better way to be healthy inside out than by doing yoga.

Interested in taking up Yoga? Head over to our Business Directory to search for a studio near your office or home which offers classes on yoga in Singapore