Practitioners of yoga have been much in the news these days — sadly, not because of the practice of yoga. Such a practice, as we should all know by now, has been firmly established as a discipline that’s Good For You. Another such activity, clearly, is reading. (Remember reading? Making sense of a page filled with letters organized into words and sentences?)
Given our frantic urban lifestyle — with little room for life, leave alone style — finding the time to pursue both disciplines for a sustained period has always been difficult. No longer. It’s time to take heart: in a dazzling breakthrough, this column presents a series of poses that combines yoga with reading.
Each one has been tried and tested by your faithful, fatigued columnist. Fasting is optional, but make sure your tongue is firmly in cheek before commencing.
The Upside-down Turtle: A good pose for the beginner. Lie on your back on any firm surface with your hands by your sides, palms facing upward. Â Slide one of your palms towards a book near you, and take firm hold of it. Slowly raise both your hands and bring them up to your chest, along with the said book. Open to the desired page and commence reading. Caution: Not to be practiced for long periods, as there have been reported instances of practitioners falling asleep, with the book slipping from nerveless fingers.
The Flitting Dragonfly: A more advanced posture. For best results, this is to be practiced in an office where deadlines loom. Sit at your table with back upright, and open any official-looking document on your computer. Place book in front of computer and start to read. Every few minutes, move your head from side to side to ascertain if a supervisor is approaching to question you about your current assignment. If so, snap book shut and stare at computer screen. This pose tests reflexes and is excellent for the neck muscles.
The Reading Mantis: As the former pose illustrates, one of the advantages of this form of yoga is that it doesn’t have to be practiced only at home. This one, for example, is perfect within the confines of overcrowded public transport.  Upon entering a bus or train, hunch your back and stretch out your neck. With feet planted firmly on the ground, raise one arm and hold on to a strap to prevent swaying. Clutch the book with the other hand and commence reading. The challenge here is to maintain the pose while others around you jostle and complain loudly about vegetable prices.
The Greta Garbo Crouch: In a heartening indication of adaptability to changing times, this pose borrows from the West, being suited to those who can’t read unless they’re left alone. Find an appropriate, secluded spot such as under the bed or behind the curtains. Even pulling the bed-covers over oneself will do, for those in dire need. Draw in your limbs until you occupy the smallest area possible. Then, extend your fingers, gingerly pick up the book and commence practice. Note: A small flashlight may be required for this pose.
The Aggravated Lion: Strictly speaking not a pose that combines yoga and reading, but an essential aid in continuing one’s practice unabated. In this case, should there be distractions such as blaring TV sets, taps on the shoulder or tugs on sleeves while reading, one lays the book down, and calmly turn towards the source of distraction. Then, splaying the fingers and opening the mouth wide, the practitioner emits a loud roaring sound, accompanied by the protrusion of the tongue and widening of the eyes. If performed with vigour, this is normally enough to make all distractions cease. If they don’t, see the Greta Garbo Crouch, above.
Happy mental and physical stretching, and don’t forget to breathe.
Cited from http://in.news.yahoo.com/blogs/author/sanjay-sipahimalani/