HALASANA

HALASANA
Lie on your back and stretch your body. Place your hands beside your thighs, palms facing down. Inhale and raise both legs slowly, till they are at 90° to your waist. Don’t lift your head. Using your hands as pivots, lift your waist and stretch your legs beyond your head, trying to touch the ground behind with your feet. Keep your knees straight. Hold this position for as long as you can, breathing normally. Return to original position, bringing your legs back very slowly and ensuring that your palms and head stay on the floor and your knees stay straight. Do this asana once or twice.

Caution: Avoid this asana if you suffer from slip disc, backache or cervical spondylosis.

Benefits: This asana is very useful for mental and physical development as it activates the thyroid glands, increases height (works best for those under 20 years), counters obesity and boosts digestion.

CHAKRASANA

CHAKRASANA
Lie on your back. Bend your legs at the knees, bringing your heels towards your thighs. Keep your legs a little spaced out. Place your hands beside your shoulders, fingers pointing at your feet and palms facing down. Inhale and place pressure on your hands and feet. Raise your hip, back, shoulders, neck and head. Slowly try to bring your hands and legs closer, such that the body assumes the form of a wheel. Breathe very normally in the final position. Try to stay in this posture for as long as you can. Then relax, rest your waist on the ground and return to original position.

Benefits: This asana enhances spinal elasticity and strengthens the muscles of the shoulder, chest, abdomen and thighs. It helps increase height but works best for those under 20. It also activates body energy. For women, it brings about relief from uterus-related problems.