4 Yoga poses for beginners and why they rock
We recognize that not everyone can float up into headstand and practice yoga for 60 years straight so today’s post is a little Yoga 101 for beginners
Here are four moves anyone can do and will only take a few minutes of your day to practice.
1. Butterfly
- Sit with your knees close to chest
- Relax your knees to either side
- Push bottoms of your feet together
- Hold your feet or ankles
- Lean forward slightly – you should feel your sit bones on the ground
Why?
- Calms you
- Opens your hips
- Stimulates the heart
- Practicing it consistently late in a pregnancy helps ease childbirth
- Relieves symptoms of menopause
- Stretches inner thighs, knees and groin
2. Mountain pose
- Stand with feet together and your arms at your sides
- Press weight evently aross your arches and balls of your feet
- Find the triangular base of support that your feet provide
- Draw awareness inside
- Draw down through your heels and straighten legs
- Feel as if your lower back has a tail and you need to tuck the tail under -bringing pelvis to neutral
- Elongate your neck
- Tuck chin slightly
- Keep breathing smooth and consistent
Why?
- Improves posture
- Strengthens thighs, knees, and ankles
- Firms abdomen and buttocks
- Relieves sciatica
- Reduces flat feet
3. Downward Dog
This pose is one you will do the most if you practice yoga so it’s important to do it right. We stumbled upon this excellent blog and thought we would share Amber’s tips as they easily apply to everyone.
http://bodypositiveyoga.com/downward-facing-dog-a-guide-for-beginners-and-plus-size-yogis/
Why?
- Wakes you up
- Builds bone density
- Releases stiff backs
- Boosts circulation
- Stronger hands, wrists and lower back
- Elongates shoulder blades
4. Child’s Pose
- Sit comfortably on your heels
- Roll your body forward and bring your forehead to rest on the ground/mat in front of you
- Attempt to get your lower chest as close to your knees as you are comforable with and extend your arms out in front of you
- Hold this pose feeling the stretch in your arms and back
- Breathe deeply -listen to the sound of your breathe like ocean waves
Why?
- Releases back and shoulder tension
- Alleviates stress
- Lengthens spine
- Stretches tendons in knees
- Encourages steady breathing
Namaste B*tches
