Q1.
Can you name a yoga pose you have tried or seen? What do you think it helps with?
Answer
Name one pose you have actually done or watched, and say plainly what it does for the body or the mind. One pose described honestly is worth more than a list of ten names.
Sample answer: I have tried Vrikshasana, the tree pose. You stand on one leg, put the sole of the other foot against the inside of your thigh, and join your hands above your head like branches. The first time I wobbled and fell over at once. After a week I could hold it while counting to twenty. I think it helps with balance, and it also helps me concentrate, because the moment my mind wanders I start to tip over.
Poses you may have seen — pick any one
| Pose | What you do | What it helps with |
|---|---|---|
| Tadasana (mountain pose) | Stand straight and tall, feet together, arms stretched up | Standing straight; makes you aware of your own posture |
| Vrikshasana (tree pose) | Stand on one leg, the other foot against the thigh, hands joined above the head | Balance and concentration |
| Bhujangasana (cobra pose) | Lie on your front and lift the chest on your hands, like a snake raising its hood | Loosens a stiff back and opens the chest |
| Sukhasana / Padmasana (sitting poses) | Sit cross-legged with a straight back and breathe slowly | Sitting still without fidgeting; a calm mind |
| Balasana (child's pose) | Kneel and fold forward, forehead on the floor, arms stretched ahead | Resting between poses; releases a tight back |
| Surya Namaskar (salute to the sun) | A set of twelve movements done one after another | Warms up the whole body and gets the breathing going |
| Shavasana (rest pose) | Lie flat on your back, eyes shut, and let every muscle go loose | Rest; slows the heart; is always done at the end |
| Anulom-vilom (breathing) | Breathe in through one nostril, out through the other, slowly | Calms you down when you are angry or nervous |
Why yoga is not only exercise: In running or cricket you push your body as hard as you can. In yoga you go slowly, you hold still, and you keep watching your own breath. So it trains something running does not — the ability to be quiet and steady. The chapter says yoga was a way to live in harmony with oneself and nature, and that is what those words mean in practice.
Two safety rules: Do yoga on an empty stomach, and never force a stretch until it hurts. A pose should feel like a firm pull, never like a tear. If you can, learn from a teacher for the first few weeks.