Yoga Cures: Simple Routines to Conquer Over 50 Common Ailments and Live Pain-Free (28 page)

Happy Baby

Lie down on your back. Draw your knees into your chest. Grab the outsides of your feet with your hands so the

bottoms of your feet point straight up. Gently pull your knees down toward the ground outside your torso using the strength of your arms. If it feels good rock carefully from side to side to open your back and hips even more. Stay here for ten long, deep breaths.

Flu

Your yoga practice will build up your immunity so you won’t get as sick as often, and hopefully not at

all, but when the flu does strike, the body aches, chills, and fever are no fun. When you have the flu,

the last thing you may want to do is get out of bed, but some simple yoga poses can help bring your

body back to health. These very simple poses can help you feel better faster than burying yourself under

the covers. Simple inversions in yoga stimulate your lymphatic system, which acts as a waste disposal

system for your entire body. Targeting your lymphatic system with yoga will cleanse your body,

ridding it of any lingering viruses from the flu. Yoga poses that use gentle twists increase blood flow to

your spleen, fight against infections, and cleanse the blood.

THE FLU YOGA CURE

This simple routine is designed to relax and restore your entire system from the inside out and calm your

file:///C|/...ures%20Simple%20Routines%20to%20Conquer%20Mlments%20and%20Live%20Pain-Free%20-%20Stiles%20Tara/index.html[5/29/2012 10:54:20 PM]

mind at the same time. When your mind is relaxed, your body can bring you back to optimal health quickly

and easily. When your body is at ease it can do its job a whole lot better than when it is filled with tension and
anxiety.

Standing Forward Bend Elbow Hold

Stand up tall with your feet under your hips and parallel to each other. Bend your knees slightly and fold your torso over your legs. Grab opposite elbows, forming a square, and let your head and neck hang heavy. Stay here for five long, deep breaths. If it feels good, gently sway your torso from side to side.

file:///C|/...ures%20Simple%20Routines%20to%20Conquer%20Mlments%20and%20Live%20Pain-Free%20-%20Stiles%20Tara/index.html[5/29/2012 10:54:20 PM]

Seated One-Leg Forward Bend

Sit up tall with your legs extended in front of you. Bend your left knee in toward your body, and open your knee out to the side so the bottom of your foot rests on your right upper thigh. As you inhale, reach your arms straight up. As you exhale, lengthen your torso forward over your right leg. Grab your right foot with your left hand and press your right fingertips into the floor outside your right leg. Lengthen the left side of your back so that it feels long and reaches across your right leg. Stay here for ten long, deep breaths. Repeat on the other side.

file:///C|/...ures%20Simple%20Routines%20to%20Conquer%20Mlments%20and%20Live%20Pain-Free%20-%20Stiles%20Tara/index.html[5/29/2012 10:54:20 PM]

Legs Up the Wall

Sit facing a wall. Bring the bottom of your hips right up to the wall. Lie down so your torso is perpendicular to the wall. Raise your legs and rest them on the wall. Stay here for five minutes.

Foot Cramps

Foot cramps can be a painful side effect of simply wearing shoes all day long, especially uncomfortable

ones. In yoga, foot cramps can also happen because your body might not be used to being worked in

certain ways. Yoga definitely works out the feet, strengthening and stretching all the little muscles that

hold your feet up, and which in turn hold you up all day long.

THE FOOT CRAMPS YOGA CURE

Working the feet with some simple yoga poses is great for preventing these cramps, and also for relieving pain
when you are in the middle of a cramp. If your feet cramp up during a class, try sitting on your heels with
knees in front of you and your toes tucked until the cramping fades. To prevent cramps and strengthen the

file:///C|/...ures%20Simple%20Routines%20to%20Conquer%20Mlments%20and%20Live%20Pain-Free%20-%20Stiles%20Tara/index.html[5/29/2012 10:54:20 PM]

feet do the following routine regularly.

Runner’s Stretch

Come into a low lunge with your right foot forward. Tuck the toes of your back foot under and lower your back knee to the ground. Shift your hips back to sit on your back heel. Your right leg should be straight in front of you. Relax your torso over your front leg. Stay here for five long, deep breaths. Bring yourself back to your lunge and do the same thing with the other leg.

file:///C|/...ures%20Simple%20Routines%20to%20Conquer%20Mlments%20and%20Live%20Pain-Free%20-%20Stiles%20Tara/index.html[5/29/2012 10:54:20 PM]