Yoga poses, also known as asanas, is the basis of the yoga discipline. The poses unite the body, mind, and spirit. These asanas were developed centuries ago, and each position has its benefit over a specific part of the body. Depending on the yoga position, you can improve flexibility, balance, and strength. A typical yoga session combines a variety of poses that work the entire body improving health, flexibility, and building strength. Your mind benefits from yoga just as much as your body. You’ll be able to focus, concentrate, and handle stress better.

Beginning and Ending Your Workout

The first basic yoga poses you’ll need to learn are the ones that you use at the start and end of your session. Which warm-up positions you choose will depend on the other poses you plan to do during your workout. Warming up correctly before you start your yoga poses will ensure you don’t injure yourself. At the end of your workout, it is also a good idea to do some finishing yoga poses. Your mind and body will benefit from the deep relaxation you’ll feel from your cool-down.

Seated, Standing, and Twisted Yoga Positions

There are many different types of yoga poses that can be done throughout your yoga workout. Standing positions help align your spine and encourage flexibility and core strength. These are the best Hatha yoga poses to improve your posture. When in seated positions, you’ll be able to meditate and relax. Another option are twisted yoga poses. Not only will these gently stretch and strengthen your back, they also will massage the abdominal muscles and aid in digestion. Twisted yoga poses must be done slowly and fluidly. You may hurt yourself if you make quick, jerking movements.

In addition to the yoga poses listed here, there are many other types of positions that you can try as well. Seek help from a professional yoga instructor if you are just starting to learn yoga. Once you have a basic knowledge of how to perform the different yoga poses, you can begin to enjoy your yoga workouts from the privacy of your own home.

A good memory helps self-confidence, improves relationships and moods, say psychologists. Here’s how to sharpen your memory.

1. Ask About Their Job
A study at the University of Liverpool in England discovered that people find it easier to remember a new person’s name after asking their job. It’s because when you store an item related to one already in your memory bank, the two link by a brain pathway. When you think of one, it helps “retrieve” the other.

2. Let Your Hands Do The Work
Forgot what herb goes into a recipe? Try making the shaking gesture that you’d use while cooking. Different information is encoded at the same time, like the name of the herb and the motion you’d make while using it. They serve as cues for one another, so making the gesture helps you recall the word.

3. Use Smell As A Cue
Scent may be the most powerful memory help of all: The olfactory system that governs our sense of smell is housed in the brain near the limbic system, dealing with memory. So next time you are taking a test, dab on some perfume while preparing – and again, on the big day.

4. Memory Tricks That Suit You
Studies show that 65% of us learn best seeing written information, notes and pictures. Some 30%  are “auditory learners”, who like to hear news. Just 5% are “kinesthetic learners” who learn by touch, practice or imitation.

To recall more, tap into your style. Say you meet Mr Fisher:
* If you are a  VISUAL learner, use a visual cue. Try imagining him fishing.
* If you are an AUDITORY learner, imagine the sound of waves.
* If you are a KINESTHETIC learner, remember how it feels to go fishing.

5. Keep Stress Under Control
In a study at the University of California, researchers have found that cortisol – a hormone released when se’re under stress – temporarily blocks the brain’s ability to retrieve information. But data that is stored really well in the brain is immune to the cortisol effect. So if you’re likely to be forgetful when you’re nervous, such as when making a presentation or giving a speech, practice until you’ve gotten your routine down pat.

6. Eat Your Greens
In recent Tufts University study, rats fed a diet high in spinach showed the fewest age-related memory deficits, possibly because spinach is rich in antioxidants that neutralise free radicals that damage brain cells. In fact, all green vegetables and brightly-coloured fruit are rich in antioxidant vitamin A, C and E. Just a single serving per day can give you a memory boost and you get more healthier.

7. Take Iron And Zinc
Some studies show that as many as eight out of 10 persons are deficient in iron. Those who avoid red meat are often low on zinc too, according to registered dietitician Elizabeth Somer. Too little of either mineral can affect your memory.

“Iron carries oxygen to the brain,” Elizabeth explains. “When we don’t get enough, we literally suffocate ourselves. This inevitable affects all sorts of mental abilities, including our memory. Even a milk deficiency of zinc – which protects the brain’s memory centre – has been shown to slow down learning and out ability ro recall.