Warrior Poses: Empowerment Through Yoga

Life-long wellness is a goal most of us share. Included in your goals may be the ability to reduce emotional stress, improve self-esteem and ward off diseases.

Opening your mind by practicing Yoga is like learning the power of a mega computer that can manage each elements of your goal. One of the best groups of poses that build the capacity of your body to stand on your feet and pull through life are the Warrior poses.

From the physical level, I consider that the Warrior Asanas (Virabhadrasana I, II, III) help release our bodies from stress on the heart, bolster the immune system and balance the endocrine system.On the emotional level we build peace, tranquility and fortitude through the breathing practises (pranayama) while energizing the metabolism to manage cortisol and endorphin levels.  

 

Focusing on warrior poses, we principally enhance circulation to strengthen masses of the body. We benefit by extending legs outwards while simultaneously opening the heart and strengthening the back. The back muscles are elongated and aligned with new precision and capacity for carrying the body through a full range of motion and emotion. The upper back and shoulders squeeze and extend providing a variety of benefits for the heart, circulatory system and overall build flexibility and build confidence. Overall, I consider these three poses as essential to reduce joint stiffness. 

The great benefit of working with an instructor or researching yoga is the concept of modifying poses. With such an array of benefits you can slowly concentrate on smaller objectives to approach greater stability, strength, balance and flexibility. While the guidelines for joint placement are prescribed, each pose can be modified to establish targets for leg width, neck position, arm angle and overall flexibility. Remembering that as you progress you are increasingly bringing oxygenated blood to these areas. 

As a whole, these weight bearing warrior poses bring about promised results. It is empowering to know that we can stimulate bones through the years and help to retain calcium and reduce stress.

Contact Mary Ueberax at EathTones Center for Healing in Central California for yoga instruction and embrace a Life-long practice, learn strategic modifications to poses and therapeutic use of props.