Yoga Poses

There's more to yoga than just the asanas themselves. Judith Lasater talks about the benefits of asanas and how they can create awareness in the body.

Feeling weak in the knees? These yoga poses and modifications can help.

Overworked? Overwhelmed? Meet four people who made radical and not-so-radical changes to ease their job stress—and along the way, transformed their lives.

In unexpected ways, yoga can help you lose weight. Our expert tells you how.

Why do we find ourselves attracted to some foods over others before we have even taken a bite?

Relieve stress with these three tenants of yoga practice.

Yoga can be a source of knee pain or the ideal therapy. Here's a primer on keeping the joint healthy on and off the mat.

Yoga poses might help take the pressure off the abdominal wall.

Learn to relax and overcome neck tension with this specialized sequence.

This sequence creates balance in your pelvis and can unlock even the most stubborn hips.

The smartest way to pain-free backbends? Just use props. Here's a sequence to help you bend over backward with ease.

Going upside down makes you stronger and more flexible. Plus it changes your perspective. Use this sequence to build a Forearm Balance and watch your body and mind transform.

No matter how advanced your practice is, surely there are asanas you'd just as soon avoid. Here, five top teachers divulge their nemeses and what they've learned by practicing them.

Accepting our physical sensations—whether pleasant or not—is one of the most challenging and liberating of practices.

Twisting Poses will help restore your spine's natural range of motion, cleanse your organs, and stimulate circulation.

Twists can be heaven for a bad back—if you don't push too hard. Learn how to do these 9 stretches for the spine to ease pain in your back.

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Ujjayi is the beginner-friendly springboard for all other formal pranayama.

Learn one of three important "bonds," key for pranayama breath retention.

Using yoga props can help you find balance and alignment. We break down basic poses to reeducate and still the mind by awakening the body's intelligence.

Sometimes considered a preparation for pranayama, other times a formal practice in itself.

Pose Dedicated to the Sage Koundinya II tones the belly and spine, strengthens the arms and wrists, and gives your self-confidence a big boost.

A cross between Child's Pose and Downward-Facing Dog, Extended Puppy Pose lengthens the spine and calms the mind.

The Fire Log Pose stretches the outer hips intensely, particularly the piriformis, which is often the main culprit of sciatic pain.

Learn the two versions of Single Nostril Pranayama: Surya Bhedana (Sun-Piercing Breath) and Chandra Bhedana (Moon-Piercing Breath).

Practice this pranayama technique for increased breath awareness and control.

In Extended Hand-to-big-toe Pose, maintaining solid grounding through the standing foot helps keep you steady.

Eka Pada Koundinyasana I or Pose Dedicated to the Sage Koundinya I has a lot going on—the twist, the legs going their separate ways, oh, and the arm balance. Master it.

An excellent facilitator of good pelvic floor health, Garland Pose, called Malasana in Sanskrit, stretches the ankles, groins, and back while stimulating proper digestion. No worries if your heels don't reach the floor—simply rest them on a folded blanket.

Can you practice Wheel with straight arms and Headstand without strain? Then, you're ready.

Kapotasana invigorates your body and gives your spirits a lift. This extremely deep backbend is appropriate for advanced practitioners only.

Ease up into Half Frog Pose, called Ardha Bhekasana in Sanskrit. This pose strengthens the back while gently opening up the shoulders, chest, and thighs—a loving treat for the entire body.

Sphinx Pose is the infant of backbends. It can be practiced with either an active or passive approach.

This pose gently lengthens and strengthens even stubbornly tight hamstrings.

Learn how to guide your students to bear weight on their hands with mindfulness and hand positioning tips so they avoid injury and gain upper-body strength.

Dolphin Pose strengthens the core, arms, and legs, while also nicely opening the shoulders.

This four-part meditation clears the heart and quiets the mind.

Through the practice of yoga, you can learn to hear—and follow—your inner guidance.

Do happiness and peace sound like worthy goals? You may be surprised how enlightened you'll feel if you just "pretend."

Quiet your racing mind and tune in to the stillness that resides inside you by practicing mantra meditation.

Kapalabhati is a traditional internal cleansing technique (kriya), and can be used as a simple warm-up for formal pranayama

Jalandhara Bandha is one of three important "bonds" for pranayama breath retention, the other two being Mula and Uddiyana.

Learn this traditional hand seal or gesture used for controlled pranayama.

Kumbhaka is the central practice of traditional Hatha pranayama; there are two types of retention: after an inhale (antara), and after an exhale (bahya)

Check out Timothy McCall MD's author page.

Check out Judith Hanson Lasater's author page.

Check out Hillari Dowdle with asana instruction by Tim Miller's author page.

Check out Hillari Dowdle, Asana Instruction by Tim Miller's author page.

Check out Hillari Dowdle with asana instruction by Tim Miller's author page.

Begin experimenting with how to integrate Mula Bandha into your asana practice.

Check out Julie Gudmestad's author page.

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Check out Timothy McCall MD's author page.

Just as you can practice heart opening in your thoughts and emotions, you can also experience opening the heart space in your physical body.

Check out Julie Gudmestad's author page.

A footloose approach isn't always for the best. Teach your students to firm up their feet for strong balance poses.

Check out Sharon Goldman's author page.

Amid the cacophony of everyday life, it's not always easy to hear the inner voice that can guide you to the right vacation for right now.

Check out Constance Hale's author page.

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Check out Andrea Ferretti's author page.

Deep, seated twists have the power to transform your spine. Learn how to twist right into Ardha Matsyendrasana.

Check out Melanie Haiken's author page.

Check out Melanie Haiken's author page.

Yoga helps circulate the synovial fluid inside your joints, but too much fluid is a sign of inflammation. Here’s how your yoga practice can both prevent and heal inflamed joints.

Check out Lauren Ladoceour's author page.

Breathing specialist and yoga therapist Leslie Kaminoff offers advice for asthmatic kids.

If you think there's no way to get your mind off of discomfort in your body, try this practice to shift how you experience it.

Check out Andrea Ferretti's author page.

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To find your balance in Tree Pose, plant deep roots to get grounded.

Check out Julie Gudmestad's author page.

Check out Julie Gudmestad's author page.

Try this calming meditation to keep holiday stress at bay.

Check out Julie Gudmestad's author page.

Check out Julie Gudmestad's author page.

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