Given our hectic lifestyles, being able to work out on the go is a skill we must all develop. A short routine of basic exercises and stretches (to keep injury at bay) that can be performed from the comfort of your home, hotel room or outdoors if you’re so inclined.

WHY Yoga:

Good yoga practice is a gift that keeps on giving. Yoga asanas can be performed and perfected over years and the slow and deep stretches, along with rhythmic breathing help the mind as much as they do the body. Here are a few easy asanas you can do at home starting today!

Mountain Pose

  • Stand tall with feet together, shoulders relaxed, weight evenly distributed through your soles, arms at sides.

  • Take a deep breath and raise your hands overhead, palms facing each other with arms straight. Reach up toward the sky with your fingertips.

Downward Dog

Start on all fours with hands directly under shoulders, knees under hips.

  • Walk hands a few inches forward and spread fingers wide, pressing palms into the mat.

  • Curl toes under and slowly press hips toward ceiling, bringing your body into an inverted V, pressing shoulders away from ears. Feet should be hip-width apart, knees slightly bent.

  • Hold for 3 full breaths.

Warrior

  • Stand with legs 3 to 4 feet apart, turning right foot out 90 degrees and left a foot in slightly.

  • Bring your hands to your hips and relax your shoulders, then extend arms out to the sides, palms down.

  • Bend right knee 90 degrees, keeping knee over ankle; gaze out over the right hand. Stay for 1 minute.

  • Switch sides and repeat.

Tree Pose

  • Stand with arms at sides.

  • Shift weight onto left leg and place the sole of the right foot inside left thigh, keeping hips facing forward.

  • Once balanced, bring hands in front of you in prayer position, palms together.

  • On an inhalation, extend arms over shoulders, palms separated and facing each other. Stay for 30 seconds.

  • Lower and repeat on the opposite side.

Bridge Pose

Stretches chest and thighs; extends the spine

  • Lie on the floor with knees bent and directly over heels.

  • Place arms at sides, palms down. Exhale, then press your feet into the floor as you lift your hips.

  • Clasp hands under lower back and press arms down, lifting hips until thighs are parallel to the floor, bringing chest toward the chin. Hold for 1 minute.

Triangle Pose

  • Extend arms out to sides, then bend over your right leg.

  • Stand with feet about 3 feet apart, toes on your right foot turned out to 90 degrees, left foot to 45 degrees.

  • Allow your right hand to touch the floor or rest on your right leg below or above the knee, and extend the fingertips of your left hand toward the ceiling.

  • Turn your gaze toward the ceiling, and hold for 5 breaths.

  • Stand and repeat on the opposite side.

Seated Twist

Stretches shoulders, hips, and back; increases circulation; tones abdomen; strengthens obliques

  • Sit on the floor with your legs extended.

  • Cross right foot over outside of left thigh; bend left knee. Keep right knee pointed toward the ceiling.

  • Place left elbow to the outside of the right knee and right hand on the floor behind you.

  • Twist right as far as you can, moving from your abdomen; keep both sides of your butt on the floor. Stay for 1 minute.

  • Switch sides and repeat.

Cobra

  • Lie face down on the floor with thumbs directly under shoulders, legs extended with the tops of your feet on the floor.

  • Tighten your pelvic floor, and tuck your hips downward as you squeeze your glutes.

  • Press shoulders down and away from ears.

  • Push through your thumbs and index fingers as you raise your chest toward the wall in front of you.

  • Relax and repeat.

Pigeon Pose

Targets the piriformis (a deep gluteal muscle)

  • Begin in a full push-up position, palms aligned under shoulders.

  • Place left knee on the floor near shoulder with left heel by right hip.

  • Lower down to forearms and bring right leg down to the top of the foot on the floor (not shown).

  • Keep chest lifted to the wall in front of you, gazing down.

  • If you're more flexible, bring your chest down to the floor and extend your arms in front of you.

  • Pull navel in toward the spine and tighten your pelvic-floor muscles; contract right side of glutes.

  • Curl right toes under while pressing the ball of your foot into the floor, pushing through your heel.

  • Bend knee to floor and release; do 5 reps total, then switch sides and repeat.

Child's Pose

  • Sit up comfortably on your heels.

  • Roll your torso forward, bringing your forehead to rest on the bed in front of you.

  • Lower your chest as close to your knees as you comfortably can, extending your arms in front of you.

  • Hold the pose and breathe.

 

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