Among the all eighty-four postures, Siddhasana is considered as best. Rest the heel of left foot in between the anus and reproductive organ and put the right foot on the reproductive organ in such a way that it doesn't hurt the organ. Toes of both the feet should stay between the thigh and the hip girdle. This is the basic posture of Siddhasana.

It resembles crossed-legged position popular among the students. While practicing this posture, rest your chin against the lower part of the neck. Now you are in 'Jalandhar-bandha'. Now, draw the air in your belly upward. This is 'Moola-bandha'. Focus your sights between the eyebrows but start this posture only when you have practiced 'Traatak' for more than one hour or your eyesight will weaken. Put both your palms on the thighs but fold the index finger inward so that it comes to touch the base of the thumb. It will prevent the life from flowing out of your hands.

Utility -
Continuous practice of Siddhasana helps a Yogi attain full control on his mind even if he doesn't resort to means like Pranayam.

Siddhasana can be practiced both in the morning and in the evening. Its time can be stretched from a few minutes a day to up to an hour.

Sushumna, the main nerve of the body remains straight during Siddhasana and breaths become regular.

All the major nerves of the body get purified through Siddhasana.

Both the lungs and the heart get stronger and as a result breathing becomes regular and deep.

Motility of the intestine increases. Hence, digestion improves and one gets rid of constipation.

Common diseases like cough, cold, enlargement of liver and fever because of it, chronic fever, indigestion, loose motions, fall of semen in sleep, impotency, frequent urination, disorders of the urinary bladder etc. are corrected automatically through the practice of Siddhasana.

Place the ankle of right foot beneath your left hip and the ankle of left foot beneath the right hip. Now, you will feel that you are sitting on your toes. Put your both palms on the knees with fingers stretched. Expel the air from your mouth lolling your tongue as far out as possible. Practice focussing your sight between the eyebrows.

Utility -
All the three types of bandh- Mool-bandha, Jalandar-bandha and Uddiyan-bandh are trained easily to the practice of Simhasana.

Practice of this posture is beneficial to correct the ill effects of Jalandar-bandha. This posture softens the nerves and helps Yogi in awakening of 'Kundalini' (serpent power). This posture strengthens the neurons.

This posture expels the air from within the intestines and makes them strong. Thus, complaint of indigestion and constipation is removed.

Put the right foot on your left thigh and the left foot on the right thigh and take the cross-legged posture. You can reverse the order of placing the feet on your thighs i.e. put your left foot first. Heels of both the feet must come to rest against the abdomen on the sides of the navel and both the thighs must comfortably touch the ground. Now, taking your right hand behind the back and hold the thumb of right foot. In the same fashion, hold the thumb of left foot with your left hand. Now practice Jalandar-bandha and focus your sight at the tip of your nose. While sitting in Padmasana, roll your tongue back so that its tip comes to touch the tonsils. This is 'Khechuri Mudra' that automatically leads to Moola-bandha.

Utility -
Padmasana is a sure way to awaken the Kundalini.

Sushumna nerve remains straight during this posture.

Inhalation and exhalation of breath become regular. That is why this posture is considered as the best to practice Pranayam.

This posture corrects common ailments like weakness of heart and lungs, abdominal disorders, constipation, blood disorders, skin diseases, flatulence, cough, chronic fever, liver disorders, mal-functioning of spleen.

N.B.- While you are practicing Padmasana, avoid long distance walk.

Bring your heels together and keep your legs straight. Now, bending forward, hold the thumbs of your feet and bring your forehead to rest against the knees. Don't let the knees fold. Warming up exercise is necessary before you practice this posture. Spread your legs away from each other and stretching your hands, try to touch your toes bending as far as possible. An initial practice of half an hour is in enough to train this posture in eight to ten days.

Utility -
Toxins present in the blood vessels are removed.

It stimulates hunger.

Cough, fat and acids are destroyed.

Common ailments like indigestion, constipation, intestinal worms, common cold etc. are corrected.

With the practice of this posture, the vital force of life begins to flow through Sushumna nerve from behind the brain.

Put both your palms on the ground and rest your elbows on the abdomen. Now, raise your whole body in the air keeping it perfectly straight like a stick. After your nerves are soft enough through the practice of other postures, only then try this posture. As long as the intestines and nerves are hard, Mayurasana may lead to severe abdominal pain and scars in the intestine.

Put a soft cushion on the ground or a length of cloth twirled in turban like fashion. Rest your head on this cushion and raise your legs up in the air. Now, you are standing on your head and your feet point up in the air. Initially, practice this posture for a minute or two and raise the period slowly up to an hour.

Utility -
With this posture, blood flow to the brain increases. Hence, Shavasana must be practiced for half an hour after Sheershasana to balance the flow of blood.

Circulation of blood improves and disorders related to blood are removed.

The vital force of life begins to flow towards Mooladhar chakra through Sushumna nerve. This helps in awakening of Kundalini without Pranayam.

Echo begins to appear loudly within the body and contemplation of mind is achieved easily.

Common ailments like cough, wind, bile disorders, fever, irregular breath, abdominal diseases, backache, migraine, enlargement of testis, sclerosis of the veins, dropsy, leprosy, jaundice, enlargement of liver and intestines are removed. During the practice of Sheershasana, one must consume milk and ghee lavishly.

Precautions -
Those whose brain is weak or whose head remains warm, whose eyes remain red and those who are suffering from ailments like tuberculosis, uncommon heart-beats, fever, bronchitis, bile, vomiting, hiccups, insanity, insomnia etc. must not practice Sheershasana. Sheershasana must be practiced early in the morning before breakfast.

Its practice in the night after dinner will be very harmful. Even in the morning, Sheershasana must not be practiced twice. The brain experiences intense heat in Sheershasana. Hence, it must be cooled with the help of plain food. Sheershasana must not be practiced before attending nature's call and after taking bath. After Sheershasana, washing of hands and face or walking in open air is very harmful. The practice of Sheershasana is also forbidden after Pranayam. It is better to practice other postures well, before you start Sheershasana.

If you feel intense heat after Sheershasana, at once quit the posture and take milk or ghee only and do not eat anything else including medicines. Complete rest or Shavasana shall be helpful at this stage. Do not try to move your head during Sheershasana because it may cause hemorrhage in the brain.

Put your right foot below the left hip and folding the left leg at the knee,bring your left foot to rest on the ground beside the right thigh. Now, bring your left hand from behind your back and hold the left foot with it. Knee of the left foot must touch your chest.Turn your face to the right and fix the sight between the eyebrows. This posture can be practiced reversing the order of the legs also. (See the figures to understand the posture better).

Utility -
Matsyendrasana must be practiced with changing the position of both the legs in a go. Practicing only with one style is harmful.

Practice this posture only when your nerves and veins are soft enough with the practice of other postures. This posture stretches your belly, waist, spine, chest, neck and hip girdle and removes disorders related to these organs.With the daily practice of Matsyendrasana for one hour each day, all the toxins present in the nerves and veins are removed and all the disorders connected to cough, wind and bile are corrected.

Contemplation of the mind is achieved easily through this posture.

This posture is very helpful in awakening Kundalini without Pranayam.

Ailments like loose motion, constipation, blood disorders, intestinal worms, breathing disorders, fats, enlargement of intestines and many other diseases related to blood and other body fluids are corrected.

Lie on the ground straight like a dead body. Bring both your feet together and stretch the fingers of the feet and your hand. Now, release the tension present in every part of your body.

Utility -
Shavasana is used after practicing other postures or Pranayam to quieten the impulses of nerves.

During half an hour practice of Shavasana, all the veins remain straight facilitating the blood circulation as per the nature.

During Shavasana, the vital force of life begins to flow towards the brain and mind feels peaceful.

Lie straight on the ground. Put both your hands stretched along your body. Now raise your legs in the air up to 30 degrees. Stop for a moment and again raise your legs up to 60 degrees and stop. Again raise your legs up to 80 degrees and stay in this position. Now resting your palms on your hips and elbows on the ground, raise your body further with the help of your hands.

Utility -
Vipreetkarani is a potential substitute for Sheershasana. Thus, people who are unable to practice Sheershasana can practice Vipreetkarani.

Vipreetkarani strengthens the sense organs and increases the radiance of the body.

When you have practiced Vipreetkarani posture, you can go for the Halasana, for it is the next stage of Vipreetkarani. From your position in Vipreetkarani, bend your legs above your head and touch the ground with the fingers of your feet. Try to stretch your leg as far as possible. Now, bring your hands below your head and lock your fingers.

Utility -
1) With the practice of Halasana, painful diseases like spondilitis etc. are corrected.

2) Halasana is an efficient posture to do away with obesity and other abdominal disorders. The Halasana is also helpful in correcting the diseases of neck, chest and waist.