A Complete List of Standing Yoga Poses

Standing yoga poses are considered best for balance improvement and posture correction apart from other pose-specific anatomical and therapeutic benefits. Some of them are beneficial in strengthening Achilles tendon, hip flexor and hamstrings. Hence, they are good for athletes, dancers, kids, seniors, and those who have desk jobs.

Performing these poses regularly improves full body blood circulation, especially in head and legs, hence, reducing odds of conditions like deep vein thrombosis, cervical pain, asthma, hyper-extended knee, Runner’s knee, and heart related issues such as heart attack and cardiac arrest.

Tips for Standing Yoga poses

1. For tight hamstrings, make use of a strap to bend forward and get closer to your toes/ankles. If that is not possible, place a block in front of yourself or on your sides. This would decrease the height, and ease the pose.
2. Take support of a wall or hold a sturdy chair in your beginner days to gain better sense of balance and eliminate risk of falling.
3. Never overstretch. Any pose should be continued till the point of mild stretch or strain on muscle.
4. A hammock is a good way to begin with both forward and backward inversion positions as the stress of weight is taken off both from the belly and back, respectively.
5. Having a yoga ball at home for easing a pose as well for relaxation purposes would take you a long way in the practice.

Maintaining knee, foot, and ankle safety

1. Bending knees initially is not ‘bad yoga’. The perfect pose is the one which you can do comfortably.
2. To avoid cramps in the arch of feet, wear an elastic yoga sock. You can also use a small crepe bandage for this purpose.
3. Steer clear of over stretched Achilles tendon by standing on a small wedge while performing forward bends. This reduces the strain on ankles whilst strengthening them.