Head of the Knee Pose. Practice this pose to promote flexibility in the hip joints and relief from mental turmoil.

Medical Uses:

Practice Head of The Knee Pose (along with the other forward bends) to bring high blood pressure under control. Acidity, bronchitis, colitis, leg deformity, diabetes, kidney problems and prostate problems, can also be tackled by working intelligently and regularly in this pose.

1. Sit in Dandasana (Staff Pose). Bend your left knee to the side and place your right foot against your inner right thigh. Raise your arms.
2. Reach forward and hold your right foot. Curve your spine in and up.
3. Fold forward over your right leg. Place your head on your shin.

Practice Note:

If you are flexible turn your hands out and clasp the left wrist.

If you cannot clasp your feet hold a strap. To enable a quiet mental release, either support your head on a bolster placed across the legs, or rest your head on a chair.

Shoulderstand. This pose brings about inner peace and tranquility.

Medical Uses:

This pose strengthens the spine: Problems such as arthritis of the lower back, dorsal region and shoulder joints, general backache and displaced spinal discs, can all be dealt with if this pose is practiced regularly and correctly.

Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of this pose is that it can help relieve the problems that beset many of us each winter such as, bronchitis, chest, chill, cold, cough and nasal catarrh. Learn this pose and stay away from antibiotics as much as possible. Asthma, tonsillitis, and (after medical treatment and rest) pleurisy and pneumonia, can also be brought under control with a practice that includes this pose.

Shoulderstand calms the brain like no other pose. For instance, this pose can be a wonderful tool for women going through menopause. Practice it along with Sirsasana to deal with memory loss, nervous debility and anxiety. It also helps to bring heart palpitations under control.

Other conditions that can be addressed by a balanced practice that contains
Shoulderstand: Acidity, anemia, appendicitis, low blood pressure, breathlessness, colic, colitis, constipation, diabetes, displacement of uterus, epilepsy, giddiness, (umbilical) hernia, (inguinal) hernia, impotency, indigestion, insomnia, kidney problems, swollen knees, lumbago, menstrual disorders, hemorrhoids, prostate problems, sciatica, duodenal ulcer and varicose veins.

1. Stack three blankets neatly, one on top of the other. Lay back over the blankets with your head on the floor and your shoulders two or three inches in from the (folded) edge. Bend your knees. Press your arms by your sides, palms facing down.
2. Roll your knees up over your chest.
3. Raise your hips. Support your back with your hands and place the tips of your toes on the floor above your head.
4. Clasp your hands behind your back and stretch your arms away from you. Come onto the tops of your shoulders.
5. Lift your spine. Hold for a few minutes at first

Practice Note:

Beginners should begin with the feet supported on a chair. When the pelvis can be held in line with the shoulders, and the back becomes strong, the feet can be lowered.

Upward Bow Pose stimulates the nervous and circulatory systems and tones the whole body.

Medical Uses:

Backbends work on the spine and chest. They help reduce general backache and can keep in check arthritis of the lower back, dorsal region and shoulder joints. Practiced regularly, they can also reverse hunchback.
Upward Bow helps those with asthma, breathlessness, bronchitis, chest, chill, cough and tonsillitis.

When included in a balanced practice, Urdhva Dhanurasana also brings relief for those with colitis, diabetes, tight hamstrings, (umbilical) hernia, impotency, kidney problems, lumbago, menstrual problems, hemorrhoids, prostate problems and a displaced and painful coccyx.

1. Lay on your back with your knees bent. Place your hands under your shoulders with your fingers facing your toes
2. Raise your pelvis. Raise your chest and place the crown of your head on the floor. Suck your shoulder blades and your back ribs firmly into your back. Don’t let your elbows swing out – they should be shoulder width apart.
3. Push down through your hands and feet and push up into the pose. Raise your heels and lift the trunk higher
4. Move your tailbone deep into your pelvis and place your heels on the floor.

Practice Note:

This pose is for intermediate students only. Learn the basics of yoga in a beginner’s class first so that your body is toned and strong before embarking on back bends such as this.

Before practicing back bends, warm up first with some standing poses. Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (Upward Facing Dog Pose) also works well to get the spine moving prior to backbends.

Head Stand counteracts tiredness, improves concentration and boosts self-confidence.

Medical Uses:

First and foremost, Headstand, when practiced correctly, oxygenates the brain and helps those with memory loss. When practiced incorrectly, it can damage the neck, so be sure to study with a qualified yoga teacher.

This pose strengthens the back; it helps those with arthritis of the lower back, dorsal region and shoulder joints as well as dealing with lumbago, sciatica, and general backache.

It also works on the legs; any experienced yoga practitioner who has had the misfortune of spraining a knee or an ankle knows how effective this pose is at bringing down a swelling or inflammation in these joints. Varicose veins, and coccyx pain and displacement can also be reduced.

Diseases of the respiratory system, lungs and heart such as palpitations, asthma, breathlessness, bronchitis, nasal catarrh, chills, cold and cough, and (after medical treatment and rest) pleurisy and pneumonia, can all be tackled by standing on your head.
Headstand also brings relief for those suffering from digestive problems; constipation, acidity, colic and colitis can all be ameliorated with this and other poses.

Always practice this pose regularly in equal measure with your shoulderstand.

It can also boost low blood pressure. Other conditions that greatly benefit from Headstand are diabetes, displaced uterus, epilepsy, umbilical hernia, inguinal hernia, impotency, anemia, appendicitis, insomnia, kidney problems, menstrual disorders, prostrate problems, tonsillitis and duodenal ulcer.

1. Start by practicing against a wall. Kneel down in front of a wall.Interlace your hands. Place your elbows a shoulder width apart on the floor and then place the outer edges of your interlaced hands on the floor, touching the wall. Place the crown of your head on the floor, inside your hands.
2. Raise your hips and straighten your legs. Pull your upper back away from the wall, press your forearms down and lift your shoulders away from the floor.
3. Come up, one leg at a time.
4. Place your feet but not your buttocks on the wall. To avoid compressing your neck, secure a strong base: continue raising your shoulders up and pressing your shoulder-blades in toward your st. Touch the inner edges of your feet together and stretch your legs up.
5. Gradually move away from the wall, a few inches at a time until you can balance without support. Don’t be in a hurry to do this. Work diligently and methodically to develop strength and balance.

Practice Note:

Sirsasana is not for beginners. Iyengar yoga teachers really are second to none when it comes to teaching inversions! Learn this in an Iyengar level II class. Until you are ready to begin learning headstand, practice Standing Wide Leg Forward Bend Pose (Prassarita Padottanasana).

Known as the half moon pose, this posture strengthens the legs and helps us develop poise and balance.

Medical Uses:

Along with some of the other standing poses, this asana reduces arthritis of the lower back, dorsal region and shoulder joints. It relieves backache and also benefits those with displaced spinal discs and sciatica. As with the other standing poses, Half Moon Pose strengthens weak or deformed legs, lengthens tight hamstrings, deals with knee problems and brings form to flat feet. Indigestion, kidney problems, acidity and bronchitis can also be helped.

1. Stand in TADASANA (Mountain Pose). With an inhalation, jump your feet to 3 1/2 ft apart and swing your arms out to your sides. Fully stretch your arms and legs. Turn your left foot in and your right foot out.
2. Exhaling, extend your trunk sideways to the right.
3. Hold your right shin bone and come into TRIKONASANA (Triangle Pose). Take a couple of normal breaths.
4. Bend your right knee and reach out to place your right hand on the floor 1ft. ahead of your right foot.
5. With an exhalation straighten your right leg and simultaneously raise your left leg to the level of your right hip. Keep both legs firm and straight. Raise your left arm. Look up. Breathe evenly and hold the pose for 20-30 seconds. Repeat on the other side.

Practice Note:

If your hand does not reach the floor without your knee bending, place it on a block. You can also practice this pose with your back against the wall while you are learning to balance.

This is also known as the standing forward bend. Regular practice of this posture brings flexibility through the pelvis and spine. It also helps relieve mental strain and physical tiredness.
Medical Benefits:

Arthritis of the lower back can be relieved and even avoided altogether with regular practice of this pose. Mild spinal deformity can also be corrected, along with weak legs, knee problems and flat feet. Standing Forward Bend works to calm the brain and rest the heart. Practice it to take care of memory loss, insomnia, nervous debility, breathlessness and palpitations. This pose also helps with acidity, anemia, asthma, constipation, diabetes, umbilical hernia indigestion, kidney problems menstrual disorders, nasal catarrh, and (after medical treatment and rest) pleurisy and pneumonia.

1. Stand in TADASANA (Mountain Pose). Place your hands on your hips.
2. Draw your knees and thighs up and holding your legs firm, exhale and bend forward from the hips.
3. Reach down and place your hands on the floor beside your feet and look up. Take one or two breaths.
4. With an exhalation, extend your trunk down completely and allow your head to release toward the floor. To release further forward, lift your inner thighs up into the pelvis and lift your sit bones. Allow your breath to become quiet and even. Hold for 20-30 seconds.

Practice Note:

If your hands do not yet reach the floor, either fold your arms and hold your elbows or place your hands on blocks. Those with slipped discs should not practice the final pose where the head down.

Side Stretch Pose: To develop strength and stamina, and tone the waist and stomach muscles, practice this asana.

Medical Benefits:

Along with a sequence of standing poses, Side Stretch Pose strengthens the back and relieves general backache. It can help with various problems of the back and spine including, displacement of the spinal discs; arthritis of the lower back, dorsal spine and shoulders; lumbago, and sciatica. It also develops the chest and strengthens the legs. Include it in your practice to cure bronchitis, strengthen weak ankles and weak or deformed legs. It also deals with tight hamstrings, knee problems and flat feet. Other health problems that benefit from this pose: constipation, acidity, indigestion and kidney problems.

1. Stand in TADASANA (Mountain Pose). With an inhalation jump your feet to 3-1/2 ft. apart and swing your arms out ot the side. Fully stretch your arms and legs and raise your chest. Take a couple of breaths.
2. Turn your left foot in and your right foot out. Holding your left legs firm, exhale and bend your right knee to form a square, so that your shin is upright and your thigh is parallel to the floor. Place your right hand on the floor to the outside of your right foot.
3. Extend your left arm up. Move your tailbone in. Press your right knee back to align it above your right ankle.

   Anchor your left foot firmly to the floor and extend through your left hand. Feel the resulting stretch along your entire right side.

4. Stretch your arms over your ear and look up. Breathe evenly and hold the pose steadily for 20-30 seconds. Repeat on the other side.

Practice Note:

Practicing with your back to the wall can help you achieve a good pose: press your right knee against your right arm and roll your left shoulder back toward the wall. If you cannot easily reach the floor with your hand, place it on a block.



]]> http://www.drfranklipman.com/utthita-parsvakonasana/feed/ 3 http://www.drfranklipman.com/utthita-trikonasana/ http://www.drfranklipman.com/utthita-trikonasana/#comments Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:00:08 +0000 Bobby Clennell
Also known as the triangle post, this posture develops strength and flexibility through the legs, spine and chest.]]>


Also known as the triangle post, this posture developes strength and flexibility through the legs, spine and chest.

Medical Benefits:

Along with a sequence of standing poses Uttitha Trikonasana strengthens the back. It can help those with: displaced spinal discs, arthritis of the lower back and dorsal region, stiff shoulders, and sciatica. It can also correct a hunched back and if practiced regularly, will banish backache forever. Trikonasana also works on the legs. It improves deformed or weak legs, tight hamstrings, knee and ankle problems and flat feet. Tackled with confidence it also helps acidity, bronchitis, constipation, indigestion, and kidney problems.



1. Stand in TADASANA.
2. With an inhalation, jump your feet to 3-1/2 ft. apart and swing your arms out to the side. Fully stretch your arms and legs. Raise your chest. Turn your left foot in and your right foot out. Take a few breaths.
3. Holding your legs and arms firm, exhale and bend sideways over your right leg. Take hold of your right shin. Press your pelvis forward and roll your left hip, torso and left shoulder back. Raise your left arm and look up. Hold the pose for 20-30 seconds, breathing normally. Repeat on the other side.

Practice Note:

Practice this pose with your with your shoulders and buttocks against the wall and your hand on a block to help keep the shoulders, hips and feet in alighment. This also provides a less strenuous way of practicing.



]]> http://www.drfranklipman.com/utthita-trikonasana/feed/ 0 http://www.drfranklipman.com/vrksasana-tree/ http://www.drfranklipman.com/vrksasana-tree/#comments Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:00:59 +0000 Bobby Clennell
Practice this posture to bring flexibility to the shoulder joints and to develop equilibrium and balance.]]>


Practice this posture to bring flexibility to the shoulder joints and to develop equilibrium and balance.

Medical Benefits:

Along with a sequence of standing poses, Tree Pose can help deal with bronchitis and lung problems, lumbago and sciatica, tight hamstrings, knee problems, flat feet, and indigestion.



1. Begin in Tadasana (Mountain Pose.) Stand with your feet together and stretch your legs up. Press down through your feet and lift and open your chest. Roll your shoulders back and down. Fully stretch your arms and extend out through your fingers.
2. Balancing on your left leg, bend your right leg up and place the sole againt the top of the inside of your left thigh. Press your foot against your thigh to keep it stable. Tuck your tail bone in and move your right knee back.
3. Fold your palms together.
4. With an inhalation, stretch your arms up. Breathe evenly balance for 20-30 seconds. Repeat on the other side.

Practice Note:

You can start with your back to the wall, or stand alongside the wall with your hand resting on it while you are learning to balance.



]]> http://www.drfranklipman.com/vrksasana-tree/feed/ 0 http://www.drfranklipman.com/adhomukha-svanasana-month-1/ http://www.drfranklipman.com/adhomukha-svanasana-month-1/#comments Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:00:56 +0000 Bobby Clennell
Also known as downward facing dog pose. Practice this posture to create flexibility through the shoulder joints and reduce mental fatigue.]]>


Also known as downward facing dog pose. Practice this posture to create flexibility through the shoulder joints and reduce mental fatigue.

Medical benefits:

When practiced with the head supported this is one of the postures that reduces high blood pressure and calms and regularizes heart palpitations. It also brings relief to those suffering from backache, arthritis, upper back stiffness, sciatica, and displaced spinal discs.

Downward facing dog also helps us deal with asthma, shortness of breath, bronchitis, and nasal catarrh. Include this posture in your practice if you have a displaced uterus, (umbilical) hernia, or kidney, menstrual, or prostate problems.



1. Kneel down on all fours with your toes tucked under.
2. Exhale, raise your knees up off the floor and swing your pelvis up and back.
3. Raise your heels, come up onto your toes and further raise your hips. Draw your kneecaps up.
4. Push your legs away from your body and press your heels toward the floor. Press the palms of your hands into the floor and draw your shoulder blades away from your ears. Without bending your arms or legs, allow your head to come close to the floor. Breath normally and hold the pose for 30-60 seconds.

Practice Note:

In order to get more extension through stiff shoulders, place yourhands up on blocks that are placed on their flat end against the wall.

As a less strenuous way of practicing, and to calm the mind, place your head on a block.



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