Balancing Yoga poses refer to those poses that require the person to balance on one leg or balance using one of their arms or any other body part. These poses improve our posture and help to strengthen specific muscles of our body, such as calves, hamstrings, and glutes. It is also known to improve concentration as well.

This article discusses the common balancing yoga poses, safety precautions while practising them, and more.

The following section lists 7 easy-balancing yoga asanas:

1. Garudasana

It is also known as the eagle pose, as the final position resembles the beak of an eagle. Garudasana is a perfect combination of flexibility and stretching and is known to treat certain chronic conditions such as sciatica.

2. Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana

This is a standing yoga pose that requires the person to balance the body on a single leg. Align in a mountain pose with your hands on the hips. Lift your right knee to the level of your chest and hook your big toe with your right hand. Inhale and lift up.

3. Vrksasana

Otherwise known as the tree pose, the Vrksasana has been a very popular balancing yoga pose since mediaeval times. Vrksasana helps people with anxiety, depression, sciatica, inner peace, and balance.

4. Tadasana

Tadasana is one of the most basic asanas as the foundation for many other standing yoga poses. For this, you need to stand upright and then raise your hands above your head after interlocking the fingers.

5. Utkatasana

Utkatasana is one of the best-standing yoga poses to improve body balance and stability. It is a chair pose yoga that resembles a low-squatting position. However, it is contraindicated for people with hypertension and vertigo.

6. Vasisthasana

Vasisthasana is also known as the side plank pose, which improves an individual's body alignment. In Vasisthasana, the yogis shift their body weights onto a particular side and balance it with the help of one leg and arm.

7. Virabhadrasana

Also known as the Warrior Pose, Virabhadrasana is usually practised at the beginning of any yoga session to help yogis concentrate more intensely. It is a complete series of lunges and standing poses.

The safety precautions while balancing yoga poses are:

1. Stop When Hurts

The most important and basic rule of practising yoga is to stop as soon as it hurts. Everybody is not the same. While one body can practise the strenuous poses like a cakewalk, the other might find it difficult to practise the easiest one.

2. Maintain Sequence

Practice Yoga in a sequence. Warming up is a very important part of yoga sessions. Sequencing is practising the yoga poses in a particular order. This helps to activate certain body parts to facilitate practising the apex pose.

3. Make Use of Yoga Props

Yoga props are known to improve your posture. Apart from this, the props also feel much better and safer than hard ground. When practising a full pose, the yoga prop helps in improving the alignment to a much better extent.

4. Don’t Follow Everything On Social Media

Just because you saw an extraordinary yoga pose on Instagram, it doesn't mean that you have to practise it. The majority of the posts posted by yogis on Instagram are very difficult for the average person to practise. Visually interesting poses might not be easy for you to try.

5. Warm Up Properly

Everyone in today’s world has a busy life, but in no way should it affect your yoga practice session. Always make sure that you are devoting enough time to your yoga practice session. If you have less time, stick to the less strenuous poses.

6. Relieve Your Stress Before Starting

One of the most important things that you should do before starting yoga is deep breathing. It helps to relax your mind and body, which consequently results in an intense, concentrated yoga session. With the breathing exercise, you start off the session with a positive vibe.

People having the following health conditions are contraindicated from practising balancing yoga poses:

• Elderly People: Bone strength is reduced in elderly people. Hence, they need to look after their movements. In no circumstance should they go for strenuous yoga as it might dislocate their joints.
• Those with Physically Weak Bodies: People with bone deformities and weak joints should not go for balancing yoga poses as it has a high risk of bone fracture and joint dislocation. The strain over the knees can be reduced by putting a towel under.
• Whoever had Surgery or Injury: Yoga puts stress on surgical wounds and any kind of injuries. People with abdominal surgeries or wrist and ankle injuries should avoid the balancing poses. Spinal surgery patients should pay special attention to these.
• Those Lacking Body-Breath Connections: People who lack body-breath connections and are diagnosed with anxiety should not practise these poses without the guidance of a yoga teacher. Fear of falling is common in these people.

Balancing is difficult to master, and it can never be learned overnight. When practised under a yoga teacher, the above-listed yoga poses will help to have a better balance and posture. They also help to strengthen the muscles of the body as well. However, always ensure your body is at ease while practising the yoga poses.