Crescent Moon pose is sometimes called Low Lunge pose, or Crescent Lunge Pose. Called Anjaneyasana in Sanskrit it is a powerful yoga pose which helps us develop poise and balance.

“Anjaneya” is one of the names of the deity, Hanuman (see more at Wikipedia).

Practicing this asana requires that we “open up”. As we have our chest open we breathe deeply which helps us energise and clear our lungs of impurities.

This pose when practiced regularly helps us develop humility, wisdom and compassion

Taking time in this pose with our eyes closed allows us to experience deep inner calm and trust.

Physical Benefits of Crescent Moon Pose in Yoga

• Energising for the spine
• Good for sore throat, tonsilitis, coughs and colds.
• Removes tension from buttocks
• Tones the kidneys and liver
• Stretches and strengthens quadriceps (front of thigh)
• Helps posture, particularly if you have rounded shoulders
• Beneficial for ovaries and uterus
• Relieves ankle tension
• Opens the chest
• Helps develop ling capacity
• Helps relieve sciatica

Pigeon pose is a favourite of many in class.  A long luxurious stretch which allows you to let go of a ton of tension around the buttocks.

There are numerous variations of this yoga asana, but the one we tend to do for a few minutes on each side is shown above. In Sanskrit it’s called Adho Muka Kapotasana (Downward Facing Pigeon Pose)

Coming out after 3 or 4 minutes in this pose is a great feeling as there is always noticably less tension in the body.

As well as the physical benefits pigeon pose allows us to release lots of emotional tension, particularly “uncomfortable” emotions, many of which are in connection with our relationships with others.

There may be things that, rather than express, you choose to “sit on”. This unreleased energy often gets stored as tension in the buttocks.

Pigeon pose helps us to release that, and can help us to be more openly expressive. If we don’t say what we want to say things can often build up and when they do finally get expressed it can be out of all proportion with that particular moment.

So, don’t sit on stuff – express it, and let it go.

Physical Benefits of Pigeon Pose

• Opens the hips
• Strengthens upper thighs
• Increases flexibility
• Lengthens the body
• Reduces lower back pain
• Reduces congestion
• Helps digestive system
• Relieves deep stress and tension
• Helps reduce and eliminate sciatica

Tree Pose, called Vrksasana in Sanskrit is one of the classic hatha yoga poses that I incorporate into my yoga classes.

Challenging, and fun (especially if you get a bit wobbly) Tree Pose reminds us that rigidity isn’t the best way to approach life.

Trees survive because they move with the wind – yet they stay rooted.

When doing this pose we are rooted in our inner focus – maintaining a gentle concentration on a chosen point helps us balance in tree pose. It’s when we “try” to balance that things get a little unbalanced – a bit like life, the magic is in allowing and flowing.

Tree pose helps us develop concentration – if your mind wanders off whilst doing this asana then you will find it hard to maintain the position.

Physical benefits of Tree Pose in Yoga

• Reduces Flat Feet
• Helpful for sciatica
• Helps with rounded shoulders
• Helps open pelvis and hips (particularly with the little variation we add in class)
• Helps open the chest
• Improves breathing and lung capacity
• Brings strength to the leg muscles, ankles and knee joints
• Helps align our spine

 

One of the most elegant yoga poses, Garudasana, has numerous benefits.

An article on hubpages gives great photos and great descriptions of the pose.

“Practiced as a full pose, garudasana targets all four limbs for strengthening, stretching, and toning. In addition, the back of the pelvis and the area between the shoulder blades are opened with the forward stretch of the limbs, thereby relieving tension.

Moreover, garudasana increases the efficiency of the immune system through its squeezing of lymph nodes under the arms and in the groin. Although one of the most importantly apparent benefits of garudasana is improvement in balance, this pose is especially valued for toning the arms, for flexing rotator cuffs, and for dissipating tension in the neck and between the shoulder blades.”

Check it out through the link below.

Garudasana (Sanskrit: garuda “eagle” + asana “pose”) is known as the eagle pose in yoga. It may be seen as a counter pose to gomukhasana (cow face pose). While garudasana loosens and opens the back, gomukhasana relaxes and opens the front upper body.

Practiced as a full pose, garudasana targets all four limbs for strengthening, stretching, and toning. In addition, the back of the pelvis and the area between the shoulder blades are opened with the forward stretch of the limbs, thereby relieving tension. Moreover, garudasana increases the efficiency of the immune system through its squeezing of lymph nodes under the arms and in the groin. Although one of the most importantly apparent benefits of garudasana is improvement in balance, this pose is especially valued for toning the arms, for flexing rotator cuffs, and for dissipating tension in the neck and between the shoulder blades.