Yoga poses and yoga in general are gaining traction in mainstream culture. The popularity of yoga has grasped on and formed it into an exercise of the mind, body, and soul for everyone. The origins of yoga and each of the yoga poses are certainly spiritual. The large array of yoga poses serve as a release from our regular routine, and a challenge for those who want to further discipline their mind and physique. Volume one of the three covers the first three of 11 yoga poses. The desire is to describe more popular beginner yoga poses to describe the basic technique in order to understand and try whenever you have free time. Yoga poses work as a wonderful fitness catalyst and are wonderful substitutes from the regular physical activities. There is a high emphasis on the core strength and overall flexibility, and these fundamentals carry over to other fitness, sports, and recreational activities. If nothing else, your body will love you for taking the time to fine tune it and keep it in healthy form.

Now to the point...

Mountain Yoga Pose

1. Stand with your heels apart and the tips of your large toes touching. Looking down, all of your tows should form a straight line. Begin rocking back and forth while moving your toes and heels in place until you come to a comfortable resting position. Your weight should be balanced over your feet equally.

2. Begin to tense your thighs and support the arches in your feet by lifting the inner ankles. slightly flex the inner thighs and core to bring the naval and the pelvis closer together.

3. Rotate your shoulder blades by bringing them together in the back, and then lower them towards the small of your back. Lower your hands to your side with palms facing forward. This will cause your sternum to raise.

4. Bring the top of your head aligned over your pelvis and keep your chin parallel to the floor. Press your tongue to the bottom of your mouth keeping it wide and soften your eyes to help relax.

5. The mountain yoga pose is also called Tadasana. This is the foundation for most all upright and standing yoga poses. Hold this yoga pose for 30 seconds to a minute at a time while practicing relaxed breathing.

Yoga Poses: Bridge

1. Lay down on the floor and bend your knees. Pull your heels back towards your butt as much as you can. If you need support for your neck, place a folded towel underneath.

2. With your hands and feet on the floor, push your pelvis up without flexing your glute muscles. Keep your thighs and inner feet parallel. Hold your hands together beneath your body and push them towards your feet in order to properly adjust your shoulders on the floor.

3. Lift your glutes until the thighs are roughly parallel to the floor. Keep knees roughly at 90 degrees, but push them away from the hips while lengthening the tailbone. Focus at this point on bringing your pelvis towards your navel.

4. Position your head flat to the floor by rotating it back and lifting your chin to the ceiling. Flex your shoulder blades towards your rear end to help raise your sternum. Shrug your shoulders as much as you can while trying to keep your hands extended away from the head.

5. Stay in the pose anywhere from 30 seconds to 1 minute. Release with an exhalation, rolling the spine slowly down onto the floor.

Yoga Poses: Downward Facing Dog

1. Begin this yoga pose on your hands and knees keeping your knees positioned under your hips. reach your hands forward emphasizing the position beside your head, and keeping the tips of your index fingers as even as you can.

2. Exhale slowly while lifting the knees from the floor to a straight position without locking the knees. With your heels lifted slightly, stretch your butt towards the ceiling and flex your thighs towards the groin.

3. Push your thighs backwards and try to stretch your heels down to the floor. Further straighten your legs while focusing on not locking your knees.

4. Pushing with your index fingers to support your shoulders, bring your shoulder blades together and push them towards your lower back shortly after. This will help your arms properly extend and assist in positioning your head in between your arms. Do not let your head rest and swing down towards the floor.

5. The Downward facing dog, or Adho Mukha Svanasana is one of the yoga poses traditionally used in the sun salutation sequence. Remain in this pose anywhere between 1 to 3 minutes followed by bending your knees towards the floor while exhaling to finish in child's pose.