Yoga Poses by Anatomy

Just as it’s essential for archers to know how to string their bows, it’s important for yogis to learn how to properly engage their bodies in Bow Pose.

When's the last time you reminded yourself that you can do difficult things?

Don't let the name fool you. If you're used to sitting in chairs, Easy Pose (or Sukhasana) can be quite challenging.

Chaturanga Dandasana is not merely a push-up. This pivotal yoga pose is instrumental—so it's important to practice it properly.

Extended Triangle Pose is a quintessential standing pose that stretches and strengthens the whole body.

Setu Bandha Sarvangasana can be whatever you need—energizing, rejuvenating, or luxuriously restorative.

Utkatasana powerfully strengthens the muscles of the arms and legs, but it also stimulates the diaphragm and heart.

No more awkwardly waiting in Child's Pose while everyone else in class makes their way through warmups.

Start aiming for par with these poses.

Uttanasana will wake up your hamstrings and soothe your mind.

The steadiness you'll gain in this practice will connect you to all aspects of your core—beyond just your muscles.

Find length in your side body, from your heel to your fingertips with Extended Side Angle Pose.

Your practice just became a lot stronger. (Literally.)

Bump up your energy (and confidence!) by bending back into Camel Pose. Ustrasana counteracts slouching and relieves lower back pain with a generous, heart-opening stretch.

Virabhadrasana 1 is a foundational yoga pose that balances flexibility and strength in true warrior fashion.

Take a break. Balasana is a restful pose that can be sequenced between more challenging asanas.

We promise you'll feel the burn.

Revolved Head-to-Knee Pose, or Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana, offers a deep, vivid stretch to the side body paired with loving and heart-opening movement.

We've seen an explosion of memes about Child's Pose over the last year and a half. Coincidence? We think not.

Are certain poses a pain in your… wrist? Try these alternative asanas.

It takes more than a pedicure to truly care for your feet. Here’s how to find more stability in yoga—and in life—by giving your feet some TLC.

Boat Pose, or Paripurna Navasana, requires you to balance on the tripod of your sitting bones and tailbone to build mental and physical focus, inspiring a full-body awareness.

As a counterpose to Utthita Trikonasana and preparation for seated forward bends and twists, this pose is key to a skilled practice.

Savasana is a pose of total relaxation—making it one of the most challenging.

It seems so simple as to hardly be a pose. But this basic posture contains the secrets of how to hold yourself in countless other poses.

If you still cross your legs when you sneeze or situate your mat at the back of class "just in case," you can do more than just Kegels to recover.

And yes, tons of planks are included.

Build the forearm strength you need for Salamba Sirsasana in this practice.

How to safely do this movement for pain relief.

If you’ve found yourself lying on the floor often over the past year-plus, this practice is for you.

And they take less than 15 minutes.

Bend back into the shape of a bow to feel energetically locked, loaded, and ready to take aim.

You've got more than just tightness stored in your hips. Release whatever emotional gunk may be gumming up your gears with these block-supported poses.

This revolved variation of Utthita Parsvakonasana requires a lot of flexibility to twist so deeply and ground the back heel.

Want to fly? Fire up your core. Firefly pose is an arm balance pose that requires more core strength than arm strength.

Folding into Marichyasana I or Pose Dedicated to the Sage Marichi I calms your mind, extends your spine, and gives your internal organs a healthy squeeze.

It's important these muscles are stretched as they are strengthened.

Make your everyday movements easier.

These pre-run stretches help counteract the muscular tension that always seems to accompany your workout—no matter your pace.

Don’t stretch past your limits. Learn how to practice within them.

Try these before your next workout.

These unsung heroes of your practice merit a little more attention.

Barely able to come into Butterfly? These stretches will help you find relief.

You're moments away from stretching, strengthening, and sweet relief.

Did we mention they help posture and back pain, too?

Achy shoulders that can't move through a full range of motion may actually be "frozen." Here's what that means, and how yoga can help you get back to normal.

Hips not having it? These can help.

Breathe a sigh of relief.

Feel the release.

Channel more confidence, creativity, and joy in your life with a basic understanding of your body's energy centers.

These four yoga poses—coupled with a focus on stability and your breath—can help build core strength and improve your overall practice.

Encourage ease in your hips.

Nurture your love-hate relationship with Plank Pose. A beginner's best friend, it's the perfect precursor to more challenging arm balances.

These yoga stretches can relieve iliotibial band syndrome, IT band pain, and hip pain.

Unlock muscles and ease upper body aches.

No offense to crop tops, but washboard abs don't necessarily equate to a strong core. These creative spins on Tabletop can help you access your deepest ab muscles, which are essential to building core stability.

Yes, you can find relief for those tough-to-reach spots.

Simple stretches for headaches and stress relief.

The key is balancing all that stretching with strengthening exercises.

Stretch away back tension and build core strength with these eight poses—all assisted with a yoga block.

Stretch and strengthen these often-overlooked parts of your body.

This leg-focused flow will get your heart pumping and warm up your muscles.

It’s time to loosen up—a strained pelvic floor can leave you vulnerable to injury.

The vast majority of us tend to adopt this shoulders-hunched, neck-craned-forward posture regularly throughout our day thanks to our desk-bound jobs. Learn how yoga can reverse its effects.

Unravel "work from home" lower body tension with this at-home sequence that features stretches for tight hips and low back stiffness.

Check out Sage Rountree's author page.

Nixing neck rolls can actually help you relieve tension in your cervical spine.

Incorporate these practices to help your body recover from the effects of COVID-19 or to simply strengthen your lungs and boost your immunity.

These accessible yoga positions can stabilize and support your joints and reduce pain.

You can still take your knees to chest or . But do this first.

Try This Yoga-Inspired Sequence Today for a Happier Back

Try this gentle sequence to attune to your body and heart wisdom

Soothe stress while optimizing digestive health with these 10 poses

Stretch Your hamstrings, calves, back muscles, and glutes with Uttanasana.

Rejuvenate your body and mind with this heart-opening flow.

Go from tired and wired to feeling energized and calm with a sequence that targets your back, shoulders, hamstrings, and hips.

This foundational shape lengthens your hip flexors and engages your core, preparing you for more demanding poses.