Yoga workout can be a great addition to any fitness routine. Someone can tell you that yoga exercises are too slow and boring, but it focuses on developing strength, balance, and flexibility. Yoga is an amazing and natural way to stretch your whole body after any other workout.
Yoga workout can do much more than lend muscle power and lower stress. It depends on the kind of asanas you perform – some of them, like back bends, can bring you energy, while forward bends have a calming effect.
However, in our busy lives, it is hard to find free time for a yoga workout in a fully packed schedule. But if you try to practice yoga workout at least once a week, you will soon feel much better and see good results. For example, you can do 20 minutes of yoga after gym, playing tennis or any other sport activity.
Many basic yoga poses seem to be very familiar because our bodies bend and fold naturally into them. Also, breathing is a huge part of yoga practice. During yoga workout you should breathe in your own tempo. Here are a few basic yoga poses that can help you start a yoga workout.
Mountain pose
It is the draft for all other poses. It promotes balance and directs your attention to the present moment. Turn your heels slightly apart and hang your arms besides the body. Carefully balance the whole weight of your body on your feet. Lift your ankles, firm your thigh muscles and rotate them inwards. The whole your body should stand in one line. Then broad your collarbone and elongate your neck. As you inhale, elongate your torso and when you exhale release your shoulder blades away from your head.
Tree pose
Tree pose is a sequel to the previous pose. Bend your right knee and place your right heel at the base of your left thigh. Place your foot on your left thigh with your toes pointing down. Join your palms and raise your arms directly above your head whilst balancing on the left leg. Maintain the pose for a few seconds and breathe deeply. Then lower your arms, separate your palms, stand on the floor with your right leg and return to Mountain pose. Repeat the pose, balancing on the right leg and placing the left heel at the base of the right thigh. Perform the pose for an equal amount of time in both directions, and then return to Mountain pose.
Cobra pose
You need to lie on the floor with a face down, stretch the whole body and feet, at the same time pressing them together, and strain the knees and thigh muscles, as well as the gluteal muscles. Place your hands with your palms on the floor, right under your shoulders. Place your fingers straight forward; exhale and rest your palms on the floor. Gently lift the body up as pushing off the floor and stretching crown and neck, at the same time pull your shoulders back and down. The pubic bone should touch the floor. Distribute the body’s weight so that it falls on the legs and arms. Stay in the asana for a time that is convenient for you, or for about 30 seconds. Further, gently lower to the starting position by bending your arms at the elbows. You can repeat cobra pose for 2-3 times.
Downward-Facing Dog
Put your knees to the floor (buttocks straight above your heels) and stretch your arms forward. During the asana you should relax your neck and watch on the floor above the legs. Palms, knees and feet are shoulder-width apart with the toes forward, the hips and arms are located perpendicular to the floor. You have to rise and transfer the weight of your body forward. Breathe in and, as you exhale, push off with your hands, while stretching back behind the pelvis. Lift the knees off the floor and lift the pelvis up, until you feel that your back became straight and stretched. If you feel comfortable, try to push off with your hands from the floor and stretch out behind the pelvis back and up. Lock in this position. And when you feel ready, lower your heels to the floor. Then lock in for a few breaths. The rib cage stretches towards the hips, the lower back bends down, the tailbone stretches towards the sky. The abdomen is elongated and free. The gaze is directed downward. And when you finish doing this asana you can go to child’s pose.
Child’s pose
You can use it every time you want to take a break during your yoga workout. Get down on your knees, bring your feet and knees together. Lower your pelvis to your heels and relax. As you exhale, lower your torso to your knees and your forehead to the floor. Your arms can be placed in two ways: 1. Arms are extended forward behind the head, palms are put on the floor; 2. Arms are extended along the torso and back to the heels, the shoulders are dropped. Stretch your tailbone down to your heels, at the same time trying to press your chest against your hips. The neck and arms are completely relaxed. Feel the relaxed shoulders and arms pulling towards the floor under their own weight. Stay in the asana for several breathing cycles (5-6 are usually enough).
With a regular yoga workout, you’ll start to see improvements in your strength, balance, and flexibility. And the more you do yoga, the easier it will be to reach your health and wellness goals.
Just try to start yoga workouts for beginners today — we sure you’ll be hooked!