Benefits include:
•    Stretches and strengthens the thighs, knees, and ankles
•    Stretches the hips, groins, hamstrings, and calves; shoulders, chest, and spine
•    Stimulates the abdominal organs
•    Helps relieve stress
•    Improves digestion
•    Helps relieve the symptoms of menopause
•    Relieves backache, especially through second trimester of pregnancy
•    Therapeutic for anxiety, flat feet, infertility, neck pain, osteoporosis, and sciatica
Use caution if you suffer from low blood pressure, have a heart condition, or have neck problems.

Stand with the feet together and the arms by your sides.  Separate the feet slightly further than shoulder distance apart.  Inhale and raise both arms straight out from the shoulders parallel to the floor with the palms facing down.

Exhale slowly while turning the torso to the left, bend at the waist and bring the right hand down to the left ankle. The palm of the right hand is placed along the outside of the left ankle. The left arm should be extended upward. Both legs and arms are kept straight without bending the knees and elbows.

Turn the head upward to the left and gaze up at the fingertips of the left hand. Inhale and return to a standing position with the arms outstretched.  Hold this position for the duration of the exhaled breath. Exhale and repeat on the opposite side.

The triangle pose is basically doing slow toe touches while concentrating on your breathing and stretching your body.

Many yoga devotees use the Sun Salutations routine as a warmup. However, Sun Salutations can also form your entire routine when you’re busy.

Just run through the routine once or twice, and you’re done. You’ll feel great.

Here’s a great video to show you the routine.

[tags]yoga, asanas, Sun Salutations[/tags]

Tree pose is easy to do and has many benefits.

They  include:

• Strengthens thighs, calves, ankles, and spine
• Stretches the groins and inner thighs, chest and shoulders
• Improves sense of balance
• Relieves sciatica and reduces flat feet

Use caution if you suffer from insomnia or low blood pressure.  If you have high blood pressure, do not raise your arms above your head.

Stand with the feet together and the arms by your sides.  Bend the right leg at the knee, raise the right thigh and bring the sole of the right foot as high up the inside of the left thigh as possible. 

Balancing on the left foot, raise both arms over the head, keep the elbows unbent and join the palms together. Hold the posture while breathing gently through the nostrils for about 10 complete breaths. 

Lower the arms and right leg and return to the tad-asana, standing position with feet together and arms at the sides. Pause for a few moments and repeat on the opposite leg.  Do this two or three times per leg or as long as is comfortable.

The challenge of the vriksha-asana is maintaining balance on one leg. Poor balance is often the result of a restless mind or distracted attention. Regular practice of this posture will help focus the mind and cultivate concentration (dharana).

When practicing vriksha-asana it may help to imagine or picture a tree in the mind and apply the following technique: Imagine that the foot you are balanced on is the root of the tree and the leg is the trunk.

Continue by imagining the head and outstretched arms as the branches and leaves of the tree. You may be unsteady for a while and find the body swaying back and forth, but don’t break the concentration. Like a tree bending in the wind and yet remaining upright, the body can maintain balance.

Aim to achieve the “rootedness” and firmness of a tree. Regular practice of the vriksha-asana improves concentration, balance and coordination. Because the weight of the entire body is balanced on one foot, the muscles of that leg are strengthened and toned as well.

As you advance in this posture and are able to remain standing for more than a few moments, try closing the eyes and maintaining your balance.

[tags]yoga, asana, tree pose[/tags]