Most beneficial poses

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

What is the most beneficial(must do kind) backbend, forward bend, twist and inversions in your opinion ?

Hope my question doesn’t irritate purists and traditionalists :slight_smile:

#2

I think the question could only irritate dogmatists, not purists or traditionalist.

I believe Iyengar has said (or been quoted as saying) that the three poses would be Sirsasana, Sarvangasana, and Savasana.

And I’m in no position to quarrel. However we obviously know that “beneficial” will vary based on the unique nature of the human being. So I would turn the question back to you - “what poses are most beneficial FOR YOU?”.

#3

I find boat pose(good pose to do before savasana for complete relaxation), viparita karani(most of the benefits of shoulder stand but not intense), fish pose giving me great benefits. Easy to do and doesn’t need more time.

#4

That’s wonderful.

Navasana tends to use the hip flexors in a shortened position rather than a lengthened one and therefore it can inhibit release there for the savasana that follows. In Savasana the legs should drop and become heavy throughout the pose. That, anatomically, can be easier when the hip flexors have been opened.

Viparita Karani is a very nice pose before Savasana. The use of the hip flexors is nullified by the wall supporting the legs and the pose is generally a yin pose where the nervous system goes into it’s calm, parasympathetic state. It is a mild inversion but obviously could not have the effect on the endocrine system that sarvangasana has due to the position of the torso - supine.

Matseyasana I rarely do in my practice though obviously it is a fairly intense backbend and it bears weight on the head.

#5

Thanks Gordon. Great insight.

#6

[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;61827]
And I’m in no position to quarrel. However we obviously know that “beneficial” will vary based on the unique nature of the human being.[/QUOTE]

Exactly, it is so obvious. No surprise that some teachers repeat again and again that Yoga must be tailored to the individual needs. I would even add that it depends on the time of the day, the amount of time available to practice, the location, the climate, the age, the constitution, the activites done before or to be done later, the diet, the whole lifestyle of the person, the goal of the practice, the breath ratio aso… Many questions posted here would require actually direct interaction with the person. Inverted poses would not be beneficial for many people, so one can not make a rule. Saying that shavasana, sarvangasana, shirshasana are the most beneficial poses without any detailed context does not make sense to me.

Philippe

#7

[QUOTE=Philippe*;61857]…Saying that shavasana, sarvangasana, shirshasana are the most beneficial poses without any detailed context does not make sense to me.[/QUOTE]

I agree but would add three things;

The first is that I was merely quoting Iyengar.

The second is that it is an “all things being equal” context. That means other variables are being set aside to simply respond to the question.

And the third is that I in no way intended to imply that all persons in all contexts should only do these three poses AND will only find maximum benefit in them.

Just so this is clear to the collective.