by Jenn Dawson: While a full yoga practice is going to reward you the most, doing a few basic yoga poses are going to provide you with some amazing benefits…

Whether you are short on time, have a hard time getting into a regular full yoga routine, or just need to boost your overall health, these yoga poses are going to give your health an overall improvement. 5 yoga poses for good health.

Twists

Seated twists are a great way to rid toxins from your body. Additionally, practicing twists have the following benefits:

• Stretches the spine, shoulders, and hips
• Massages the abdominal organs
• Relieves lower backache, neck pain, and sciatica
• Helps relieve stress
• Improves digestion
• Strengthening the lower back in the second trimester of pregnancy
• Therapeutic for carpal tunnel syndrome

How to:

• Sit upright and swing legs to one side, bending at the knees.
• Reach arms around and twist back, facing the opposite way of your legs.
• Breath deeply into your belly.
• Switch sides and repeat.

Standing Forward Bend

This simplistic asana is something that can be done easily, quickly, anywhere and packs loads of benefits, including:

• Clears fear, worry, and anxiety
• Improves constipation
• Relieves lower back pain
• Relieves joint pains
• Strengthens lower back

How to:

• Stand with feet shoulder-width apart
• With a straight back, bend at the hips as far forward as is comfortable while exhaling
• Arms may be crossed above the head, resting on the floor or on blocks

Child’s Pose

This asana is beneficial for deep pelvis compression and relaxes the body. Benefits include:

• Relieves gas
• Improves constipation
• Relieves lower back pain
• Relieves joint pains
• Strengthens lower back
• Clears fear, worry, and anxiety

How to:

• Sit with knees tucked underneath the buttocks and with heels flexed
• Bend forward until your head rests on the floor
• Reach arms out in front as far as they will comfortably go
• You may place a blanket under your forehead if you need the assistance and comfort

Bound-Angle Pose

While packing on the health benefits, the bound-angle pose helps prepare for other beneficial asanas you may wish to add to your practice, such as tree pose. Benefits include:

• Stimulates abdominal organs, ovaries and prostate gland, bladder, and kidneys
• Stimulates the heart and improves general circulation
• Stretches the inner thighs, groins, and knees
• Helps relieve mild depression, anxiety, and fatigue
• Soothes menstrual pain and sciatica
• Relieves the symptoms of menopause
• Therapeutic for flat feet, high blood pressure, infertility, and asthma
• May help ease childbirth if consistently practiced throughout pregnancy
• Traditional texts say that this pose destroys disease and relieves one of fatigue

How to:

• Sitting wits legs straight out in front of you, bend knees in toward the pelvis as far as they will comfortably go
• With your first and second fingers, grab both big toes
• Don’t force the knees down, but let gravity bring the legs toward the ground

Corpse Pose

While the name sounds alarming, it is the most calming asana there is. Better sleep is sure to come with the practice of corpse pose, as are the following benefits:

• Calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression
• Relaxes the body
• Reduces headache, fatigue, and insomnia
• Helps to lower blood pressure

How to:

• Lie on your back
• Legs are comfortably hip-width apart
• Arms are resting at your side, palms facing upward, relaxed
• Eyes are relaxed or closed
• Breathe deeply
• Relax every part of your body
• Remain here for 5-30 minutes, taking care to roll to one side to exit the pose slowly and thoughtfully

Source: AWAKEN