13 Yoga Poses for Better Sleep

Balasana, Child’s Pose, or Child’s Resting Pose is a kneeling asana in modern yoga as exercise. Balasana is a counter asana for various asanas and is usually practiced before and after Sirsasana.

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Siddhasana or Accomplished Pose, is an ancient seated asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise suitable for meditation. The names Muktasana and Burmese position are sometimes given to the same pose, sometimes to an easier variant.

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Paschimottanasana, Seated Forward Bend, or Intense Dorsal Stretch is a seated forward-bending asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise. The pose is entered from Dandasana (the seated Staff Pose) by bending forward from the hips without straining and grasping the feet or lower legs. A strap may be placed around the feet and grasped in the hands if the back is stiff. The head may be rested on a folded blanket or bolster, which may be raised on a small stool if necessary.

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Prasarita Padottanasana or Wide Stance Forward Bend is a standing forward bend asana in modern yoga as exercise. This is a standing pose with the feet wide apart and the body folded forward and down until in the completed pose the head touches the ground and the hands are placed flat on the ground, the tips of the fingers in line with the heels, the arms bent at right angles.  In |Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, four variant forms of the asana, which is considered fundamental to that style of yoga, are identified.

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Salabhasana, Shalabhasana, Locust pose, or Grasshopper pose is a prone back-bending asana in modern yoga as exercise. Salabhasana is entered from a prone position. The legs are stretched out straight and lifted; the arms are stretched straight back, palms down, and lifted; the head is lifted and the gaze is directed straight ahead. It is a back bend, or spine stretch, utilizing the strength of the upper and middle back to lift the weight of the legs as high as possible from a starting position while face down on the floor. It improves flexibility and coordination, exercises the back muscles, and increases strength and stamina.

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Baddha Konasana, Bound Angle Pose, Throne Pose, Butterfly Pose, or Cobbler’s Pose (after the typical sitting position of Indian cobblers when they work), and historically called Bhadrasana, is a seated asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise. It is suitable as a meditation seat.

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Shavasana, Corpse Pose, or Mrtasana, is an asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise, often used for relaxation at the end of a session. It is the usual pose for the practice of yoga nidra meditation. The name comes from the Sanskrit words शव Śava, “corpse” and आसन Āsana, “posture” or “seat”. The alternative name Mrtasana is from Sanskrit मृत mṛta, “death”.

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Setu Bandha Sarvangasana, Shoulder supported bridge or simply Bridge, also called Setu Bandhasana, is an inverted back-bending asana in hatha yoga and modern yoga as exercise. The pose is named from the Sanskrit words सेतु Setu, a bridge; बन्ध Bandha, caught; सर्वा Sarva, all; ङ्ग Anga, limb; and आसन Asana, seat or posture.

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Sukhasana, easy pose, is a simple cross -legged sitting asana in hatha yoga, sometimes used for meditation in both Buddhism and Hinduism.

The 19th century Sritattvanidhi describes and illustrates the pose. The name, and the more general name Yogasana which may denote a variety of similar poses, is found in much older documents as a meditation seat, such as in the 4th century Darshana Upanishad.

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Supta Padangusthasana, Reclining Hand to Big Toe pose, or Supine Hand to Toe pose is a reclining asana in modern yoga as exercise. The name is from the Sanskrit सुप्त पादाङ्गुष्ठासन supta pādāṅguṣṭhāsana, from सुप्त supta, “reclined”, पादाङ्गुष्ठ pādāṅguṣṭha, “big toe”, and आस āsana, “posture” or “seat”.

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Upavista Konasana, also written Upavistha Konasana or “wide-angle seated forward bend” is an asana in modern yoga as exercise, sitting upright with the legs as wide apart as possible, grasping the toes and leaning forward.

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Uttanasana or Standing Forward Bend, with variants such as Padahastasana where the toes are grasped, is a standing forward bending asana in modern yoga as exercise. The name comes from the Sanskrit words उत्तान uttāna, “intense stretch”; and आसन; āsana, “posture” or “seat”.

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Viparita Karani or legs up the wall pose is both an asana and a mudra in hatha yoga. In modern yoga as exercise, it is commonly a fully supported pose using a wall and sometimes a pile of blankets.

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