Yoga for beginners

In the pursuit of being healthy, you cannot just workout your body. The mind is equally important in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and feeling good. Stress can make you put on weight, have high anxiety, feel awful, and in general is something to avoid. But realistically avoiding stressful situations is impossible, so you have to find ways to balance your mind and not allow stress to ruin your life.

That is where yoga comes in.

Yoga is well known for its spiritual components, but apart from the spiritual goals, the physical postures of yoga are used to alleviate health problems, reduce stress and make the spine supple in contemporary times. Yoga is also used as a complete exercise program and physical therapy routine. I go to a local gym three times a week and take a yoga class, but you can just as easily follow a dvd routine or youtube video at home. You need a yoga mat, water, and comfortable clothes. You can bring a towel or anything else to help you stretch out.


I am just going to list you some basic moves that you can try at home. If you like them, feel free to join a class or download videos on how learn more moves.

1.  Child's pose-

1. Sit up comfortably on your heels.
2. Roll your torso forward, bringing your forehead to rest on the bed in front of you.
3. Lower your chest as close to your knees as you comfortably can, extending your arms in front of you.
4. Hold the pose and breathe.

2. Mountain pose-

1. Stand tall with feet together, shoulders relaxed, weight evenly distributed through your soles, arms at sides.
2. Take a deep breath and raise your hands overhead, palms facing each other with arms straight. Reach up toward the sky with your fingertips.

3. Upward facing dog/ Cobra-

1. Lie facedown on the floor with thumbs directly under shoulders, legs extended with the tops of your feet on the floor.
2. Tighten your pelvic floor, and tuck hips downward as you squeeze your glutes.
3. Press shoulders down and away from ears.
4. Push through your thumbs and index fingers as you raise your chest toward the wall in front of you.
5. Relax and repeat.

4.Downward facing dog-

1. Start on all fours with hands directly under shoulders, knees under hips.
2. Walk hands a few inches forward and spread fingers wide, pressing palms into mat.
3. 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.
4. Hold for 3 full breaths. 

5. Bridge Pose-

1. Lie on floor with knees bent and directly over heels.
2. Place arms at sides, palms down. Exhale, then press feet into floor as you lift hips.
3. Clasp hands under lower back and press arms down, lifting hips until thighs are parallel to floor, bringing chest toward chin. Hold for 1 minute.
4. Make it easier: Place a stack of pillows underneath your tailbone.

Remember throughout each pose to keep your breathing steady and relax your mind. It can be challenging at first, but it is a great workout for both your mind and body!

Also, if you want more tips about eating right and exercising follow me on:

-Instagram: Waystolivehealthy

-Twitter: Striving for Healthy

Until next time!

Carrah

PS The girl pictured is one of my best friends, Chandler Russell. She just graduated from the University of Alabama, and is a yoga fanatic. She is wearing a lulu lemon top, and Adidas by Stella Mcartney pants. Look out for her post on friday!!