hatha yoga health benefits (2)

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All asanas improve blood flow and oxygen supply to specific areas and organs of the body but also to the whole body to a certain degree.
All asanas should be mastered gradually without undue strain to tendons, ligaments and the spine. Forcing an asana against the advice of your hatha yoga teacher may lead to injury and prolongs mastery of the particular asana technique.
All asanas and their benefits are originally from the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. About 84 of the asansas were taught by Shiva who had special regards to Siddhasana, Padmasana, Simhasana and Bhadrasana. Siddhasana and Padmasana are essential for mastery of more advanced techniques as they help to keep body and mind steady, stir the lower chakras and keep the spine straight assisting ascending currents of potential energies.

Asana	Used for	References
Siddhasana	relaxation, restless mind, concentration, strengthens lower areas of the spine	IY (p. 119)
Padmasana	relaxation, restless mind, concentration, strenghtens lower areas of the spine beneficial for many illnesses	IY (p. 131) TB (p. 29)
Baddha-Padmasana	increases appetite, beneficial for many illnesses.	TB (p. 26)
Savasana (also: Mrtasana)	relaxation, fatigue, restless mind	TB (p. 20)
Simhasana I	halitosis, studdering	IY (p. 136)
Simhasana II	strengthens liver, regulates flow of bile, halitosis, helps correct coccyx area, recommended for studdering	IY (p.138)
Bhadrasana (also Gorakshasana)	beneficial for many illnesses, fatigue	TB (p. 21)
Svastikasana in combination with pranayama	beneficial for many illnesses	TB (p. 22)
Paschimottanasana	Obesity, Fat metabolism, strengthens spine, heart, kidneys, abdomnial organs, improves digestion, increases vitality, helps control sex drive, beneficial for many illnesses	IY (p. 170)
Mayurasana	Counters food poisoning, other toxins, entropy of speen, fever, problems with the lower abdomen, beneficial for many illnesses. In case of toxins, dhauti-techniques are added to cleanse areas like the intestinal tract. Special enimas may be extremely useful for many illnesses.	TB (p. 25)
Viparita-Karani (also Sirsasana / headstand)	increases blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain, rejuvenates pituitary gland, pineal gland and thyroid, memory problems, insomnia, lack of energy, constipation, benefial for many illnesses; symptoms of old age, wrinkles, grey hair	IY (p. 190) TB (p. 31)
Uddiyana Bandha	fat reduction around waistline, strengthens abdominal organs, glands and muscles, improves digestion and metabolism, prevents constipation	KZ (p. 20)
Nauli	improves digestion and metabolism, prevents constipation, strengthens abdominal organs, glands and muscles	KZ (p. 22)
Bhujangasana	keeps spine flexible, reduces fat around waistline, strengthens urinary system and various glands	KZ (p. 36)
Janu Sirsasana	good for spine and kidneys, reduces fat around waistline	KZ (p. 52)
Matsyasana	beneficial for neck area, thyroid, asthma, brain, digestion and hemorrhoids	KZ (p. 52)

For references the following books were used:
1. Theos Bernard (TB) Hatha Yoga 1957;
2. B.K.S. Iyengar (IY), Light on Yoga 1966;
3. Karen Zebroff (KZ), Yoga and Nutrition 1979.

The next page lists various health problems which may respond to certain asanas, mudras or pranayamas.