Yoga and Its Relation to Speech-Language Development 15the spine, increase shoulder and hip mobility, and stretch the
back muscles. As the trunk of the body turns, twists activate
kidney and abdominal organs to improve digestion and remove
sluggishness in all the bodily systems. Hip opening poses, such
as butterfly, promote proper alignment of the sacrum and pelvis
so that practitioners can sit, walk, and move with greater comfort
and ease. Hip opening poses alleviate stress, calm the nervous
system, and combat fatigue. Hip openers are also important for
practicing safe, deep forward and backward bends, as well as
for sitting comfortably for meditation.
Forward bends, such as child’s pose, stretch the lower back and
hamstrings, release tension in the upper body, and increase spinal
flexibility. They also promote a calm, relaxed state. Backward
bends, such as camel pose, open the chest and hips, strengthen
the arms and shoulders, and increase the flexibility of the spine.
Backward bends also stimulate the nervous system and clear the
mind of extraneous thoughts. Inverted poses, such as downward
facing dog, build strength and endurance in the upper body, as
well as stimulate the brain. When the legs are positioned higher
than the heart, the flow of blood and other fluids in the body
reverses, relieving tension in the legs.
The different categories of yoga poses are not mutually
exclusive as some of them can belong to more than one category.
For example, “tree” is a standing, balancing, and hip opening pose.
The ultimate goal of all the yoga poses is to prepare the body for
stillness and meditation.
Yogic breathing
The second component of yoga, the breathing exercises, focuses on
control over the breath. Certain breathing exercises calm the body,
whereas others energize it. During a yoga practice it is important
to synchronize the breath with the poses. For example, backward
bending poses occur on inhalation, and forward bending poses