YOGA Standing Positions!

This is the last in a short series of four hubs detailing the sitting, standing and floor positions in the Yoga routine that I regularly practise.

Yoga has been practised in the east for many hundreds of years, but has only more recently been developed and used in the west. The aim of this hub series is to instruct and illustrate various Yoga moves that others might benefit from my experience.

If you would like to begin practising yourself then I recommend that you go back through my profile page to YOGA - an introduction and breathing techniques. This hub gives a background to, details the benefits of and also gives a few introductory poses to Yoga. It also talks you through the necessary breathing techniques and shows you how you go about limbering up. The other three hubs all detail interchangeable moves. This is the last of those.

This hub is aimed at being of benefit to your health, so if you are pregnant or have a heart condition please do not attempt it.

Additionally, if you are new to hubpages and fancy having a go yourself I recommend that you check out the hubpages community page, which can give you tutorials and guide you through the setup process.

When beginning your standing positions it is advisable to stand up slowly if you have previously been attempting floor or sitting positions.

Personally, I always start with running through the sitting poses, then go up to standing from the Downward Facing Dog. To do this simply push back on your legs and come up slowly, one vertebrae at a time.

Start with your arms straight above your head and your back straight.

Bend your knees so that you imitate sitting in a chair.

Hold the pose for five breaths.

This exercise is brilliant for bats wings!

Start standing with your hands by your sides.

First, lift your right leg off the ground and hold it at a 45 degree angle to your body, letting it drop from the knee down.

Hold this pose for five breaths.

Return to standing and repeat on the left leg.

This exercise is great for strengthening leg and lower abdominals.

TIP: If you have problems balancing on one leg then try focusing on something in the distance that doesn't move.

Stand with your feet slightly more than shoulder width apart.

Point one foot towards the direction you are going to lean in and face the other forward ahead of you.

Lean into your pointed foot, hold for five breaths.

Stand with your feet slightly more than shoulder width apart.

Bend as far to the side without turning as you possibly can.

Keep your feet as in the Warrior pose above; one pointed ahead and the other in the direction you are bending.

Try to touch your ankle with the tips of your fingers, but keep your arms straight.

Lastly (and only if you can) try to turn your head so that you look upwards.

For the dancer pose you will need a little skill in the balance department.

From a standing straight start, lift your arm out and point it straight in front of you and angled upwards.

Next, grab the opposite leg behind you with your other arm as photographed.

Pull the leg out away from you at the same time as you lean forward into the point.

Lean against the opposing forces to balance yourself.

Remember to do this stretch using the opposite arm and leg.

TIP: Focus on a point that's not moving if you are having trouble balancing.