12. Peacock pose (Mayurasana) -#yoga

If you are a gymnast, this might not be too out of your routine! This animal yoga pose tests your balance, endurance, and stamina. You should try it only if you are an intermediate yoga practitioner.

Benefits of peacock pose:

  • It strengthens the arms and shoulder muscles.
  • It strengthens the abdomen.
  • It aids in, both, physical and mental balance.

Another kind of peacock pose:

  1. Stand straight. Turn to your side.
  2. Interlock your hands behind you. 
  3. Bend your head and knees as you move forward. Imagine you are a peacock pecking grain off the ground.
  4. Come back to the center and release.

Another variation of peacock pose:

  1. This time interlock your hands in front of you with your index fingers pointing downwards.
  2. Bend your head and knees well as you move forward. Again, imagine you are pecking grains off the ground. 
  3. Come back to the center and relax.

Benefits: A great pose to amuse children though adults can enjoy it too! It flexes the neck and back muscles.

11. Camel pose (Ustrasana)-#yoga

The backbend in this animal yoga pose reminds one of a camel’s hump. Hence the name. 

Benefits of camel pose:

  • This pose opens the chest and shoulders. 
  • It improves flexibility of the spine and hence improves posture.

Variation of camel pose: 

  1. Stand straight. 
  2. Stretch your arms forward and place your hands one on top of the other. 
  3. Move forward, bending your knees as you do. 
  4. Bend your elbows as you move your hands in a circular motion towards you as you move.
  5. Feel the stretch in your hamstrings.
  6. Come back to the center.

You can try this same pose moving forward with your arms inclined downwards and your knees bent more – almost touching the ground. 

Benefits: This builds your core muscles and makes you more flexible in the limbs.

10. One-legged pigeon pose (Eka Pada Raja Kapotasana)-#yoga

When you look at this animal yoga pose, you can easily envision a sitting pigeon! Hence the name. 

Benefits of one-legged pigeon pose:

This pose is one of the ‘hip-openers’, as it helps flex and lengthen the hips. Sitting on a chair actually makes your hips shorter! This is the perfect counter exercise. So, if you have a sedentary desk job, this is a great exercise for you. However, work your way to the pose as it is more challenging than it looks. 

9. Eagle pose (Garudasana)-#yoga

Benefits of eagle pose:

Do this pose often enough and you won’t be able to help having a sense of balance! After all, you are on one leg! The pose, in totality, is asymmetric which makes you concentrate all your energies in one direction. This animal yoga pose will be an interesting challenge for children. 

8. Cow face pose (Gomukhasana)-#yoga

This animal yoga pose, in totality, gives you the image of the face of the cow. How? Just imagine the arms are like the ears, the torso like the nose, and the crossed legs like the mouth of the cow. Can you see it now?! The cow pose improves the flexibility and movement of various body parts.

Benefits of cow face pose:

  • It straightens and lengthens the spine, correcting your posture. This is useful for both men and women.
  • It creates a sense of balance between your left and right side!
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