Sukasana is translated as Easy Yoga Pose. You may be doing this pose already and not even know it is yoga! Start by sitting on your bottom with your legs crossed and bent at the knee, not straight out in front of you. Then move one leg toward your body. The other leg can lie on the floor. Sit up straight and tall with your head parallel to the floor. Be sure your shoulders are relaxed.

Vrksasana is known in English as the Tree Pose. The Tree Pose is started from a standing position with your feet about shoulder-width apart. Your hands should be in prayer position with your fingertips pointing upward. Keeping your pelvis level, bring your right foot and leg up the inside of your left leg, stopping when you get to the inside of your thigh (or until you cannot go any higher without pain). Balance. Repeat the pose with your other leg starting from the beginning position.

Adho Mukha Svansana, otherwise known as Downward-Facing Dog, will stretch your entire body. Start by getting down on all fours, hands and knees aligned with your shoulders and hips. Your back is flat. Next, bring your hands back towards your feet, raising your backside up towards the ceiling and straightening out your legs. You will look like a triangle (inverted). Hang your head, take your shoulders out of your ears and relax them (beginners tend to scrunch their shoulders towards their ears). Do not invert yourself farther than you can go without pain.

The Child’s Pose is another good stretch for your spine. Starting at Downward-Facing Dog Pose on all fours. Lower your bottom down to sit on your calves. Your knees should be spread apart. Position your arms with your fingertips pointing toward your feet, along your body, or stretch them out in front of you with your fingers splayed. Hold as long as you wish.

Cat/Cow Pose is another stretching pose. Get onto your hands and knees as if you were going to do the Downward-Facing Dog Pose. Your toes should be bent under and pointing towards your head. Shoulders should be relaxed. Drop your belly low towards the ground. It is not necessary to touch your belly to the ground. Keep your hands and knees aligned with your shoulders and hips. Next, arch your back towards the ceiling getting a good stretch. Come back to the beginning.

Garland Pose is a standing position. Your feet should be spread apart comfortably. With your back straight, lower your bottom towards the ground and go into a squat. Your elbows should be at the insides of your knees, pressing outwards. Shoulders need to be relaxed. Stay like this for five breaths.

There you have six very simple poses that you can use to relieve tension, improve balance and flexibility. They were not too difficult, were they? These poses can also serve as a perfect addition to the end of your exercise routines. Now that you know yoga for beginners is not too hard, continue your practice and consider joining a yoga class in your community. Remember to always use a good yoga mat when performing yoga. Your body will thank you.

Ground Meditation

Ground meditation technique is a great way to renew your focus and calm your mind. This meditation technique will leave you feeling energized when you are finished. It is a great pick-me-up in the middle of the day (and has much more staying power than a candy bar).

This type of meditation uses the imagination and visualization. To begin, close your eyes and imagine a golden thread running from the center of the Earth through your body and out to the edge of the universe.

Now, go back to the place where this golden string emerges from the top of your head. In your imagination see it traveling out past the stars, past the sun and out of our galaxy till it goes beyond the border of all space. It ends up in a great bright white light. The golden string blends with the light and is safely rooted there. It becomes one with the light.

Follow the thread back down through your head and down through the Earth’s crust, deeper and deeper, until it reaches the center of the Earth. There you see the source of Earth’s energy: a deep yellow-orange core of light. The thread merges with the light and becomes one with it. You feel pulled toward the center of the Earth and grounded.

Next notice your breathing, notice your feet planted firmly on the ground. As you emerge from your meditation, you feel fantastically energetic, clear-headed and renewed.

Walking Meditation

One of the easiest meditations to learn is a walking meditation. Walking meditation is great exercise and you get all the good things from meditation, all in one package. It is very simple to fit into any schedule and can be beneficial in even short snippets of time. Leave your dog at home when you do walking meditation, though. Trying to do both is an exercise in futility.

When you are ready, begin walking. No need to rush, just walk along at a pace you find comfortable. Notice how it feels when your feet meet the ground. Feel the breeze on your skin. Notice the smell of the air and any feelings in your body.

Some people find it helpful to listen to calm music during their walking meditation. Others prefer focusing on saying a mantra, phrase or prayer in their head. Or, just focus on body sensations. Once you are finished walking you should be feeling rest and ready to go.

Final Words

Meditation does not have to be something mysterious, done only by monks sitting on cushions in a temple in Tibet. Everyone can find a meditation technique that appeals to them. Meditation can be done at any time of the day or night, and any repetitive activity (such as raking leaves, doing the dishes, painting, etc.) can be made meditative and easily fit into daily life.