The near-superhuman way yoga unites mind and body

By Drake Baer, Science of Us

Updated 1931 GMT (0331 HKT) October 19, 2016

Dana Santas, creator of <a href="http://www.radiusyoga.com/" target="_blank">Radius Yoga Conditioning</a>, demonstrates a yoga practice to cultivate a mind-body connection. <br /><br />Sit comfortably on the floor or in a chair with your hands resting on your legs. Slightly bow your head and close your eyes. Taking conscious control of your respiration, begin lengthening and deepening your inhalations and exhalations.
Photos: Yoga to make a mind-body connection
Deep breathing – Dana Santas, creator of Radius Yoga Conditioning, demonstrates a yoga practice to cultivate a mind-body connection.

Sit comfortably on the floor or in a chair with your hands resting on your legs. Slightly bow your head and close your eyes. Taking conscious control of your respiration, begin lengthening and deepening your inhalations and exhalations.
Hide Caption
1 of 7
Start on your hands and knees with your hands slightly forward of your shoulders and your hips above your knees. Turn your toes under and exhale as you lift your knees, engaging your quadriceps (muscles of the front of your legs) to begin straightening your legs while bringing your pelvis up and back to create an A-frame shape with your body. Use your midback muscles to pull your shoulder blades toward your waist, broadening your upper back and lengthening your spine.
Photos: Yoga to make a mind-body connection
Downward dog – Start on your hands and knees with your hands slightly forward of your shoulders and your hips above your knees. Turn your toes under and exhale as you lift your knees, engaging your quadriceps (muscles of the front of your legs) to begin straightening your legs while bringing your pelvis up and back to create an A-frame shape with your body. Use your midback muscles to pull your shoulder blades toward your waist, broadening your upper back and lengthening your spine.
Hide Caption
2 of 7
Keep your knees bent in downward dog as you work on alignment, strength and mobility before attempting the full expression of the pose with straight legs and full shoulder flexion. You can also slowly pedal out your heels, by straightening one leg at a time to ease into the posture.
Photos: Yoga to make a mind-body connection
Modified bent-knee downward dog – Keep your knees bent in downward dog as you work on alignment, strength and mobility before attempting the full expression of the pose with straight legs and full shoulder flexion. You can also slowly pedal out your heels, by straightening one leg at a time to ease into the posture.
Hide Caption
3 of 7
From standing, step your right leg back into a lunge but drop your heel all the way down and point your toes out slightly. Keep your back leg straight with your forward knee flexed to align above your ankle. Lift your arms overhead, shoulder-distance apart, keeping the shoulder blades stable down the back to maintain length in your neck.
Photos: Yoga to make a mind-body connection
Warrior one – From standing, step your right leg back into a lunge but drop your heel all the way down and point your toes out slightly. Keep your back leg straight with your forward knee flexed to align above your ankle. Lift your arms overhead, shoulder-distance apart, keeping the shoulder blades stable down the back to maintain length in your neck.
Hide Caption
4 of 7