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!

7. Cat stretch (Marjariasana)

This animal yoga pose is a good warm-up pose. So, you can start with it before you move on to more rigorous asanas. If you’ve ever observed a cat, the upward stretch and well-rounded bend look exactly as a cat would do it! Hence the name.

Benefits of cat stretch:

  • It helps increase flexibility to the spine.
  • It encourages correct postural alignment. 
  • It also stimulates the abdominal organs.

B. Upward facing dog pose (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana)-#yoga

This is very similar to the Cobra Pose and is sometimes done as part of surya namaskar also. 

Variation of the dog pose

  1. Start in downward-facing dog pose.
  2. Release the stretch and bring your knees down to the floor.
  3. Inhale as you lift your right knee bent slightly up to the side. Bring it down as you exhale. 
  4. Again, inhale and move on to the left leg. Exhale and bring it down.
  5. Repeat 6-7 times and relax.

Benefits: This animal yoga pose opens up and strengthens the hips and groin area.

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