Health Tips from Grandma Grandma and fitness is synonymous..whether it be through her diet, her personal grooming or her effort to be fit through the traditional yoga asanas. We remember her coaxing all of us to some of the awkward yoga postures.and we perhaps ignoring it. But believe us it did carry a lot of meaning. And strangely we found grandma to be a strict follower of yoga. And guess what Grandma was conscious about her ABS too.We picked up some of the asanas for the stomach to help you flaunt flat abs. So here you go!! 1) Torso Asana Lie on your belly, hands flat on the floor close to your chest. Lift your upper body by pressing the tops of your feet and shins into the floor as you press your hands into the floor and straighten your arms. Breathe. Hold for 40 seconds. Do it twice. 2) Tree Asana Stand with feet planted, arms at sides and body in alignment (ears over shoulders, shoulders over hips, hips over ankles). Inhale and bend the right leg, pulling the heel up until it rests on the inside of the left thigh. Get your balance and hold this position, then slowly push arms overhead, palms touching each other. Press the knee back without moving the hips. Hold this for 30 seconds then switch sides. Repeat 2-3 times 3) Bending Forward Asana Sit with your legs together stretched straight in front of you. Point your toes. Inhale and stretch toward your toes with your finger tips, keeping your body long and extended. Hold for thirty seconds. Breathe normally. Return to the starting position and repeat 2-3 times. 4) Butterfly Asana Sit on the floor stretching straight up through your spine. Bring the heels of your feet together, with your knees bent and pointing out to the sides. Let your legs open towards the floor to a position where you are comfortable. Hold your feet in your hands and slowly stretch forward and hold for 30 seconds. Do this 2-3 times. 5) Bridga Asana Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet hip-width apart. Rest your arms at your side. Using your abdominal, lift your hips as far as you can off the floor. Your head, shoulders, and arms should remain on the floor. Keep your thighs parallel. Hold for 15 seconds. Repeat 5 times. 6) Locust Asana Lie on your stomach so that your chin is on the floor and your arms are extended in front of you. Engage your abs. Inhale and lift your arms, chest, head, legs, and feet off the floor. Hold for 3 seconds then slowly lower to the floor. Repeat 5 times. 7) Cat Asana Get on all fours and look straight ahead with your back as flat as a table. Exhale and arch your back upwards while tucking your chin to your chest. Inhale and arch your back downwards, swaying the low back as you look toward the ceiling. Repeat up to 5 times. 8) Yoga Crunches Lie on your back and bring your knees to your chest. Rest your hands over your head on the floor behind you and raise your legs with feet flexed toward the ceiling. Use your ab muscles to slowly guide your legs downward. Repeat for 10-15 times in a row. Some Pointers Control your movements Use slow, controlled motions to ensure that your abs muscles are at work. Don't hold your breath Your breath is essential in yoga and during exercise in general. Taking deep inhalations and exhalations will not only wake up the muscles but also help you stretch deeper when performing yoga. Chant "Om" In yoga, the mind-body connection is essential. Take a few moments to clear your mind and get in touch with your body before starting yoga moves. Take deep, cleansing breaths, and listen to your body. Only do a little more than you thought you could and tackle more next time. At the end of your work-out, use your cool down to close your eyes and connect within for a more peaceful, centered you. Stay Tuned for the next dip into the world of Grandma's diary! Grandma-diary2 Grandma-diary3