Yoga is known to help people not only improve their health but even tackle some issues that they may have been suffering from, for a long time without any cure. This not only improves your mental health but also improves your lifestyle drastically. As we grow older, we start experiencing issues related to our back or our bones and yoga has always helped with that. Here are 5 Yoga poses that will help improve your joint health.

Hastottanasana

Hasta uttanasana, also known as the "Raised Arms Pose," is a standing backbend that's part of the Sun Salutation (Surya Namaskar) sequence. It's a great way to stretch your back and shoulders.

Here's how to do it:

• Stand tall with your feet shoulder-width apart and arms relaxed at your sides.
• Inhale and slowly raise both arms overhead, keeping them shoulder-width apart.
• Keep your legs straight and slightly bend your head and upper body backwards.
• Don't overexert yourself – go as far as feels comfortable.
• Exhale and return to the starting position.

Remember to practice on an empty stomach or at least 4 hours after eating. Ideally, do this pose during sunrise as it's part of the Sun Salutation sequence.

Malasana

Garland Pose, also known as Malasana, is more than just a physical stretch. It's a grounding and calming pose that can help you feel more connected to your yoga practice and less distracted. This pose activates the Muladhara chakra, which is associated with stability and security. By focusing on this chakra, you may feel more grounded and centred. The name "Garland Pose" comes from the Sanskrit word "mala," which refers to prayer beads.

How to do Garland Pose:

• Squat down with your feet close together.
• Separate your thighs slightly wider than your torso.
• Lean forward and tuck your torso between your thighs.
• Press your elbows against your knees and bring your palms together in a prayer position.
• For a deeper stretch, reach your arms forward and wrap them around your shins.
• Hold for 30 seconds to 1 minute, then slowly rise to standing.

Remember, Garland Pose can be challenging for some people. Start with the basic version and gradually progress to more advanced variations as you become more comfortable.

Samasthithi/Tadasana

Mountain Pose, or Tadasana, is a simple yet powerful pose that benefits your entire body and mind. Here's why:

Standing tall in Mountain Pose helps you align your body, stacking your shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles. This can counteract the slouching and tension caused by sitting at a computer for long periods. Mountain Pose enhances your awareness of your body's position and alignment. This awareness helps you make adjustments in other poses and daily activities.

How to do Mountain Pose

• Stand with your big toes touching and heels slightly apart.
• Lift and spread your toes, then lower them back down.
• Align your head, shoulders, hips, and ankles in a straight line.
• Let your arms hang naturally at your sides with palms facing forward.
• Gaze straight ahead and breathe deeply.

Beginner Tips

Stand with feet hip-width apart for better balance and to ease lower back tension. Gently rock back and forth and side to side on your feet. Gradually come to a standstill with your weight evenly distributed.

Paschimottanasana

Yoga offers a wide range of benefits for people of all ages and abilities. One particularly effective pose is Paschimottanasana or Seated Forward Bend.

Here's how to do it:

• Sit on the floor with your legs stretched straight out in front of you.
• Place your palms on the floor beside your hips.
• Exhale and reach forward, grabbing your big toes with your hands.
• Keep your back straight and lean forward, gently arching your spine.
• Bend your elbows and use them to pull your torso closer to your legs.
• Gradually bring your forehead towards your knees, resting it comfortably if possible.
• For deeper stretches, you can try holding your soles or resting your chin on your shins.
• Hold this position for 1-5 minutes, focusing on your breath.

To come out of the pose, inhale, lift your head and chest, and slowly straighten your legs.

Dhanurasana

Dhanurasana, or Bow Pose, is a powerful yoga pose with a range of benefits. Here's what you need to know:

Dhanurasana comes from the Sanskrit words "dhanush" (bow) and "asana" (pose). As you Dhanurasana can be helpful for managing back problems and improving flexibility. The pose also stimulates the digestive system, aiding in digestion and potentially reducing bloating. Dhanurasana is believed to have a positive impact on both physical and spiritual well-being.

How to do it

• Lie on your stomach with arms by your sides and legs stretched out.
• Bend your knees and reach back to hold your toes (or use a strap if needed).
• Inhale and lift your chest and thighs off the ground, creating a bow-like shape.
• Keep your head and neck relaxed, looking slightly upwards.
• Hold for a few breaths, then gently release and return to the starting position.

Yoga has the ability to set the tone of your day. We see people who wake up super early, do a morning routine and squeeze in some yoga. This may seem like a hectic schedule to many, but exercising early in the morning has shown to be good for the mental as well as physical well-being of people. Experts explain that doing yoga every morning increases your energy, improves mental clarity, helps you reduce stress as well as ensure your physical well-being.

If you are worried about spending a dedicated time doing yoga, like an hour or so, you do not have to worry. Even spending 10 minutes, fully focused yoga can help you immensely. If you are doing these poses with guided videos, make sure you are not pushing yourself too hard, and proceed with caution. If you feel any odd discomfort, make sure you visit a healthcare professional just to be safe.

Child's Pose

Begin in Child's Pose, bringing your big toes together and knees wide for a comfortable stretch. Extend your arms forward, lifting onto your fingertips to deepen the stretch in your shoulders and armpits. Focus on expanding your ribcage with each inhale and relaxing your arms closer to the mat with each exhale, using your breath to settle into the pose.

Cat-Cow

Transition to Tabletop position, bringing your knees closer together. Flow through three rounds of Cat-Cow, arching your back on the inhale and rounding it on the exhale. This movement helps to gently mobilize and warm up your spine.

Leg Lifts and Variations

From Tabletop, lift your right leg, knee, and toes towards the ceiling on the inhale, and bring your knee to your nose on the exhale. Repeat twice, engaging your core. For an added challenge, lift your right leg again and reach back with your left hand to grab your right foot, deepening the backbend and stretching your left shoulder.

Modified Side Plank

With your right leg lifted, return your left hand to the mat, straighten your right leg, and roll onto the inner edge of your right foot into a modified Side Plank. Perform five toe taps, lifting and lowering your right leg, then bend your right knee to grab your right foot, deepening the backbend and shoulder stretch. Repeat the sequence on the left side.

Downward-Facing Dog

Move into Downward-Facing Dog, lifting your hips up and back, bending your knees as needed to lengthen your spine. From Down Dog, lift your right leg, bend your knee, and open your hip in Scorpion Dog.

Warrior 2 and Triangle Pose

Step your right foot forward into Warrior 2, grounding through your back foot and bending your front knee. Transition into Triangle Pose, straightening your right leg and reaching your right arm forward, then down, while your left arm extends upward. Explore variations to deepen the pose and strengthen your obliques.

Low Lunge and Quad Stretch

From Triangle Pose, move into Low Lunge, placing your back knee on the mat. Optionally, add a quad stretch by reaching back with your right hand to grab your left foot, pulling your heel towards your glutes. Repeat the sequence on the left side, then move back to Downward-Facing Dog.

Child's Pose and Seated Meditation

Return to Child's Pose, resting your hips towards your heels and extending your arms forward. Take five deep breaths, reflecting on your intention for the day. Transition into a comfortable seated position for a short meditation. Close your eyes, relax your shoulders, and soften your facial muscles. Focus on your breath and your intention for the day, grounding yourself before moving forward.

Being emotionally overwhelmed can be difficult to deal with. We all have such days when you are exhausted emotionally, it almost seems as if you are unable to do, even necessities. So, dealing with these issues often becomes the problem of how resilient you are and what tools you have learned. Here's where physical activities comes in. Harvard Health Publishing explains that exercising helps us reduce the levels of stress hormones such are adrenaline and cortisol.

Does yoga also play a part in better emotional regulation? Yes, ‘Yoga for better mental health’ by Harvard Health Publishing explains how yoga increases the release of endorphins, which are feel good chemicals your body produce as well as supplies more oxygenated blood in your brain.

Here are some yoga poses you can try if you are feeling emotionally exhausted. Make sure you are not overexerting yourself and practice precaution while performing the poses.

Supported Bridge Pose (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana Variation)

This pose provides deep relaxation by using props to support your body. It gently releases tension held in the upper back and shoulders, areas that often tighten when we experience stress or emotional strain. The support allows the nervous system to settle, promoting a sense of calm and release. Here’s how to do it.

• Lie comfortably on a bolster, a rolled-up blanket, or pillows which ensures your back is supported and your upper back is flat on the floor.
• Take slow, deep breaths, allowing your body to sink into the support.
• Stay in this pose for about 20 breaths, focusing on releasing tension.

Low Lunge Variation (Anjaneyasana Variation)

This variation opens up the front of your body, which tends to become hunched and closed off during periods of stress. The hands supporting the head create a gentle hammock, allowing your neck to relax and your chest to open. This helps to release emotional tension and promotes a feeling of openness and vulnerability.

• Step one foot forward into a low lunge position.
• Bring your hands behind your head, interlacing your fingers to support it.
• Gently lean back, opening your chest and throat.
• Hold this pose for approximately 5 breaths, focusing on the stretch in your front body.

Pyramid Pose Variation (Parsvottanasana Variation)

This pose utilizes gravity to release tension while simultaneously opening the chest and back. The addition of Gomukhasana arms provides extra support for a gentle forward bend. This combination allows for a deeper stretch, helping to release emotional and physical tightness, and promoting a sense of calm and groundedness.

• Stand with one foot stepped back, creating a wide stance.
• Use a strap or towel to perform Gomukhasana arms, and gently lean forward from your hips.
• Hold this pose for about 8 breaths, focusing on the stretch in your hamstrings and the opening in your chest.

Little Thunderbolt Pose Variation (Laghu Vajrasana Variation)

This pose lengthens the front of the body, stretching from thighs to throat, and encourages feelings of trust and surrender. It helps to release emotional blockages and promotes a sense of vulnerability, allowing you to let go of control and find inner peace.

• Kneel on the floor, using blocks behind you for support.
• Lean back, arching your spine and allowing your head to gently rest on the blocks.
• Repeat this movement, holding the pose for about 5 breaths each time, focusing on the stretch in your front body.

Reclining Tree Pose (Supine Vrksasana)

This is a gentle hip opener and lower back release, which also allows for a deeper opening of the chest. It helps to release tension in the hips and lower back, promoting a sense of calm and relaxation, and aiding in emotional release.

• Lie on your back, bring one heel toward your inner thigh, and allow your knee to open out to the side.
• Relax your arms and breathe deeply.
• Hold this pose for approximately 10 breaths, focusing on releasing tension in your hips and lower back.

Reclining Spinal Twist Variation (Supta Matsyendrasana Variation)

This gentle twist releases tension in the spine and promotes a sense of calm and relaxation. It helps to "wring out" emotional and physical tension, leaving you feeling refreshed and renewed. This pose also helps to improve flexibility and mobility in the spine.

• Lie on your back, drop your knees to one side, and turn your head in the opposite direction.
• Repeat this movement on the other side, holding each twist for a comfortable duration.
• This helps to release tension in your spine and promote relaxation.

Supported Legs Up the Wall Pose (Supported Viparita Karani)

This pose transforms feelings of pressure into softness, promoting deep relaxation and calm. It helps to relieve stress and anxiety, and promotes a sense of peace and tranquility. This pose is particularly effective for calming the nervous system and promoting restful sleep.

• Lie on your back, place a block or bolster under your hips, and raise your legs up the wall or toward the sky.
• Hold this pose for 3-5 minutes, allowing your body to fully relax and release tension.

There are many cities in the United States, however, not all of them are fit. In fact, the prevalence of obesity among adults aged 20 and older in the US was 40.3%. Severe obesity has affected 9.4% of adults, notes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is why the American College of Sports Medicine's (ACSM) 2024 American Fitness Index analyzed and ranked the 100 largest cities the United States to assess cities' overall fitness. The index was based on 33 fitness indicators. It considered factors like fruit and vegetable consumption, exercise habits, overall personal health, access to parks, playground, and recreational centers.

The ACSM ranked these 10 cities as the fittest of all

10. St Paul, Minnesota

At number 10th, we have St Paul. It was a population of 303,176 and has the most baseball diamonds per 10,000 residents of the 100 cities included in the report.

9. Irvine, California

This is a city in Orange County, which has ranked at the 9th for the US fitness index. It has a population of 313,685 and around 79% of the residents have exercised previous month. Out of them, 57.2% have also met the guidelines set for aerobic activity as per the American College of Sports Medicine and the CDC.

8. Atlanta, Georgia

Atlanta also joined the top 18 list at number 8 position with a population of 499,127. The city also performs well in regard to its citizens' health behaviors, with a high percentage of residents exercising in the last month. The citizens here also ranked highly for living within 10-miunte walking distance to a park.

7. Denver, Colorado

At seven, we have Denver, with the population of 713,252. It has also performed well with citizen's healthy behavior. 81.5% of its population exercised in the previous month.

6. Minneapolis, Minnesota

Second time in a row we have Minnesota, with its city Minneapolis at rank 6. It has a population 425,096. It is also in the index' highest ranked city for Bike Score, which measures whether a location is good for biking based on its bike infrastructure, geography and share of bicyclists. The city also ranks high for having parks within a 10-minute walk and for having a high percentage of residents who have exercised in the previous month.

5. Madison, Wisconsin

It has a population of 272,903 and the residents are mostly in good shape, reveals the survey. 55.1% of its residents are in excellent or very good health and 84.7% of its residents have exercised in the past month.

4. San Francisco, California

California is also making its mark the second time on the list. This time, it is with its 4th fittest city with the highest-ranked walk score among the 100 cities analyzed. It has a population of 808,437 and is the city with the lowest obesity rate. The rates are at 15.8% and 99% of its residents live within 10-minute walk to a park.

3. Seattle, Washington

It has a population of 749,256 and it prioritizes well-being. This is why it has earned the highest personal health ranking, which examines what people are doing individually to get and stay healthy.

2. Washington, D.C.

It has a population of 671,803. The city ranks first for the percentage of its population that consumes two or more fruits a day.

1. Arlington, Virginia

The first one to top the list is Arlington. This is for the seventh time in the row that Arlington has been ranked the fittest US city as per the American Fitness Index. It has ranked in top 10 in the 16 out of the 33 indicators. It has a population of 234,000. It has ranked best among the community and environment category, including for people exercising in the precious month, people sleeping 7+ hours a day, and the percentage of residents who smoke or live 10-minutes away from the park.