by Tired of your daily yoga routine? Well, there is a way to add some fun to it! While yoga is usually practiced on a mat, you can also do it in water. Surprised? Doing yoga in water is known as aqua yoga. A yoga expert says the buoyancy and resistance provided by water makes it an ideal environment for practicing yoga poses that improve flexibility, strength, and overall relaxation.
Himalayan yoga expert Siddhaa Akshar, founder of Akshar Yoga Research and Development Center, says, “As we are 70% water, water yoga or aqua yoga can be extremely beneficial for us. This is a low impact workout that benefits both mind and body.
Here are 7 health benefits of aqua yoga
- Aqua yoga can help calm your body as water has a healing effect on the senses.
- By increasing overall body movement, it helps improve flexibility and mobility.
- Water yoga can be helpful in improving breathing and reducing fatigue.
- It can also be helpful in detoxifying the body.
- It helps cure sleep-related issues such as insomnia, as it soothes the nervous system, calms the mind, and relieves stress.
- It also relieves anxiety and other mental health issues.
- The practice of aquatic yoga helps to improve muscle strength, tone and blood circulation.
Who can do aqua yoga?
The buoyancy of water reduces stress on joints, offsets some of your body weight, and makes aqua yoga an ideal choice for beginners looking to improve their fitness, seniors with mobility issues, pregnant women, overweight people and people with arthritis or low bone density.
Aqua yoga poses
Here are 5 aqua yoga poses that can be practiced in water to improve your overall health:
1. Mountain Pose (Tadasana)
Water Mountain Pose improves posture, strengthens legs, and promotes relaxation. To practice this pose in the water, stand in chest-deep water with your feet hip-width apart. Engage your core and distribute your weight evenly over both feet. Imagine your body extending upward, aligning your spine with the natural buoyancy of water. With each inhale, feel the support of the water gently lifting you up, and with each exhale, let any tension release.
2. Vrikshasana (tree pose)
Vrikshasana aims to improve balance, stability and muscle strength.
To perform it, stand waist-deep in water and bring one foot against the inside of the opposite thigh. Balancing one leg in the water adds an element of resistance, engaging the muscles even more. Water resistance challenges your body, legs and overall body coordination. Find a focal point to maintain balance while enjoying the calming qualities of the water around you.
3. Utkatasana (chair pose)
Utkatasana is a great way to work your lower body muscles and build strength. In the water, this pose becomes a dynamic exercise for your legs and core. Stand in water up to your shoulders and sink into a squat position, as if you were sitting on an imaginary chair. Engage your core, keep your back straight, and extend your arms forward or up. Water provides natural resistance, intensifying the workout of your quadriceps, glutes and abs.
Read also : Water training: 7 pool exercises to burn calories and lose weight
4. Floating Padmasana (Lotus Pose)
The floating padmasana improves flexibility in the hips and knees. Start by sitting in chest-deep water and cross your legs in a lotus position. When you release your weight to the surface of the water, let your body float naturally. This pose encourages relaxation, mindfulness, and deep breathing. The buoyancy of the water relieves joint pressure, making it an ideal pose for soothing discomfort.
5. Downward Dog Pose
This pose provides an excellent full-body stretch. Start in a plank position with your hands on the edge of the pool and your body aligned. Push your hips up and back, forming an inverted V shape. The buoyancy of the water helps lengthen the spine and open up the shoulders and hamstrings. This pose improves flexibility, relieves tension, and promotes better posture.
Aqua yoga is a fun way to add a little twist to your regular yoga practice. So try it now!
