Enter Asana Twists for a calm yoga mind

 

The most popular form of yoga in the western world is hatha yoga, which focuses on a series of poses or asanas, designed to increase flexibility, increase energy levels, improve balance and tone muscles.

In this form of yoga, the body is seen as an energy system, divided into areas or chakras. Each asana focuses on increasing the flow of energy to a particular chakra to stimulate organ function, improve blood flow, and work on specific muscles to generally improve your well-being in that chakra.

There is a wide variety of asanas and each person requires a personalized program of postures to address their particular goals or health problems. Asanas are divided into broad categories with certain properties. One of the main categories are asana twists that are designed to extend and open the spinal canal, tone the abdominal muscles, and untangle the mind.

The goal of most asana twists is to bring the shoulders at right angles to the hips. The pose will be maintained for thirty seconds to one minute and with each outward breath we should try to turn a bit more towards our goal. Asana twists can be Q Twist or sitting.

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One of the most popular asana twists is the spinal twisting pose or Matsyendrasana, named for Sri Matsyendrasana, who originally conceived hatha yoga. This pose realigns the spine and is used to treat diabetes, constipation, dyspepsia, and urinary problems. The spinal twisting asana increases the flow of energy to the stomach, colon, liver, spleen, pancreas, and kidneys.

All yoga asanas should initially be performed under the supervision of a qualified professional, but the turns have a particular potential for injury, so great care must be taken. When making a turn, you should always drive with your belly or torso, and never with your head. The head should be the last part of the body to twist.

You should take special care when performing asana twists if you are pregnant, and if you do not want to avoid them entirely, you should always perform open twists. These are asanas that involve keeping your abdominal muscles smooth and not contracting as you would in a tight twist. Other people who should only attempt an open twist with a relaxed abdomen area are hernia victims, menstruating women, and anyone with a detached retina or glaucoma.

Some people should avoid asana twists entirely. They are not recommended for people with high blood pressure or people prone to migraines, as restricting the blood vessels during a turn can trigger an attack.

Back problems such as low back pain, slipped discs, or rheumatism can actually be treated with asana twists as they can relieve tension in the back muscles. However, great care must be taken and professional supervision is mandatory.