Chakras

http://www.spiritscienceandmetaphysics.com/how-to-open-your-chakras-explained-by-a-childs-cartoon/

as explained in a kids cartoon.

Feet on ground

Have you noticed that when a sapling is growing a tripod kind of support is created with sticks/poles?

A table cannot stand on 2 legs but 3 it is possible?

Similarly the feet needs to be firmly on the ground for us to stand properly for standing poses.

One of me teachers once said imagine you have 3 of the vacuum hook like things on your feet. One at the ball of your foot, one in centre of your heel and the last on the outer corner , somewhere below the pinky toe. For all standing postures press the imaginary vaccum cups and press them into the ground and that will give you a stable stand. Try it.

Butterfly pose is unusual

Asanas are to get to position and hold it there or continue to deepen the stretch / bend

However this is an exception as it involves movement of flapping while in pose.

Tips while doing yoga

Tips I can recall that may be useful to others

• Seek blessing before starting. Helps us to be in a grateful mode & grace flows.
• For all back bends tightening the butt and ticking in the tail bone helps.
• In all bends and stretches once in final position, don't forget to keep breathing & with every exhale deepen the stretch/bend. 
• For forward bends stretch up first then fold and lengthen more & then finally bend.
• While holding a pose, try chanting a manta or saying a prayers and with time you can change to a longer one or do repeats. Has a very meditative effect.

A warm up & stretch that works wonders

Surya Namaskar benefits

Yoga styles

I have tried yoga at temple halls & grounds in India, in community centres in UK, in Fitness Clubs, in Yoga studios in Singapore, at home , and at various other places.

I have been fortunate to have had many teachers and each leaving some bits of knowledge with me. Nowadays one hears so many names...( fitness clubs & Yoga studios have creative names)

• Pathanjali Yoga
• Hatha Yoga
• Iyengar Yoga
• Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga
• Power Yoga 
• Hot Yoga
• Gentle Yoga
• Stretch Yoga
• Sooksham Yoga
• Restorative Yoga
• Meditative Yoga 

Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga I did at the time of pregnancy & after that and was a good experience with instructors helping you do what is suitable and what helps.

Personally I think Power Yoga goes against the principles of Yoga. Makes it a cardio excercise with many reps.

Hot Yoga some claim the heating helps stretch muscles better, but I feel hot & uncomfortable and don't enjoy it at all.

Gentle Yoga is like doing simple stuff and stretching, something I would recommend to beginners and the elderly.

Stretch Yoga when I tried , I liked it and great to stretch and deepen the stretches.

Sooksham Yoga have little knowledge is a set of stretches and excercises including pressing and massage of toe & finger tips, ear lobes and forehead etc.

Restorative & Meditative yoga are therapeutic with loads of pranayama and I have personally enjoyed such sessions

Yoga & Geometry

A particular instructor of mine (she was probably a geometry expert or in love with geometry), and she used to emphasise the parallel to ground and at an angle of 45 degrees and think straight line etc in various poses.

Each time I do warrior one,  her instructions leg perpendicular to foot & knee at 90 degree & arms parallel to ground, rings in my head.

In Trikon asana I can hear her say isoceles triangle

In downward dog she would say make a pointy triangle and so on.

When I reflect I do see a lot of geometry in the asanas