How to Do Bharata Yoga
Bharata yoga is a form of yoga originated in Amsterdam by Gert van Leeuwen that focuses on aligning the spine properly during poses and helps to handle stress and tension. This attention to posture not only helps handle stress and tension, but builds strength and flexibility as well. Increase your mobility and improve your posture by including Bharata yoga into your practice.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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1
Sit down on a soft surface or mat with your legs crossed and spine straight and take some deep breaths through your nose to clear your mind.
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2
Stand up with your legs together but without locking your knees. Start with a straight spine and your shoulders back.
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3
Take a deep breath and bend forward at the waist and allow your hands to fall to the floor. Hold this for a few breaths, lift yourself back up, take a big breath again and repeat the movement.
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4
Lift yourself back to standing position and raise your arms up with palms facing inward and touching each other. Take a deep breath and slowly twist to the right side and lower your hands to shoulder height with palms facing down.
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5
Raise hands again slowly back to palms touching and then lower them to the other side using the same process.
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6
Lower hand to your sides and bend your right knee, placing your right foot on your left knee as close to it as you can get and your leg is out to your side. Sweep your hands together at your chest and balance for a few breaths. Slowly, lower your foot and both hands and do this again on the other side.
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7
Repeat these poses and add more of you own that elongate the spine until you have the complete yoga practice you desire. End with a relaxation pose either sitting up or laying down with eyes closed. Take deep slow breaths and take in all the benefits of your practice and rise when you're ready.
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1
Tips & Warnings
If you venture to Amsterdam to try Bharata yoga in its origination, many classes are taught in Dutch but most teachers will switch to English if you request it.
Many Bharata yoga classes focus on poses related to one part of the body or a certain movement at a time. All poses are held for a long time so that you can free your upper back, be physically aware and focus on correct alignment and breath, which can translate to your other yoga styles.
