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Yoga Poses by Anatomical Focus

Find Yoga Poses to Strengthen and Open Different Parts of the Body

By , About.com Guide

Updated June 30, 2011

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

One of the beauties of yoga is that each pose works several areas of the body at once. If you want to find poses that focus on the abdominals, arms, back, chest, hamstrings, hips, psoas, legs, and shoulders, use this guide.

Abdominals

© Barry Stone
Practicing these poses will improve your abdominal strength, one of the areas of "core strength" that also help to keep your back in good shape.

Arms

© Barry Stone
Practicing these yoga poses will increase the strength of your arms -- from deltoid to wrist.

Back

© Barry Stone
These poses will increase back strength and spinal flexibility. No more aching back, hopefully!

Chest

© Barry Stone
These poses will open your chest, especially important if you sit at a desk for long hours.

Hamstrings

© Barry Stone
Practicing these poses will improve hamstring flexibility -- tight hamstrings is a common problem for many people.

Hips

© Barry Stone
These poses will open your hips. You may not be able to do the splits, but practicing these will help increase your range-of-motion.

Psoas

© Barry Stone
The psoas muscle connects your thigh bone to your lower spine deep in the core. This muscle is not the best known, but it is very important to stretch and strengthen it to improve core strength and prevent back pain.

Legs

Warrior II© Barry Stone
These poses will strengthen and tone the leg muscles -- from hip to calf.

Shoulders

© Barry Stone
These pose will improve shoulder flexibility, which becomes less flexible as you age.

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