If you need a bit of a break from the hustle and bustle, and a chance to turn inwards right now – roll out your mat and give these 7 poses a try.
Keep in mind how you want your day to go moving forward as you move through these balancing poses, hip openers and full body stretches.
1. Flowing Goddess – Begin standing, facing the long edge of your mat. Take a wide stance, turning the feet out with toes pointing towards the corners. Inhale to circle the arms up and bringing the palms to touch. Exhale to bend the knees and sink the hips down, bringing hands to the heart. Move through circular motions with the breath. Do 5 rounds or so.
2. Wide Legged Forward Fold – Push into the feet and straighten the legs. Turn the toes in so the feet are parallel to the short edges of the mat. Inhale to lift and lengthen, exhale to hinge at the hips. Release the arms down to the mat. Let go of tension in the neck, maybe shaking the head side to side.
3. Half Sun Salutations – Step to the top of the mat, keeping the feet hip width apart. Inhale arms up, palms together. Exhale to fold, bending knees as needed. Inhale, fingertips to the shins and lift halfway. Parallel to the floor. Exhale to fold deeper. Press to stand on inhale, exhale hands to heart. Repeat from the top for 3 total rounds.
4. Tree Pose – Standing tall at the top of the mat, shift the weight into the right leg. Bring the left foot somewhere along the inside of the standing leg. Feel the leg pushing against the foot. Draw the low belly in, reaching tail down. Bring hands to the heart, or reach them up overhead.
5. High Lunge – From tree, take the left foot and step it back all the way. With toes tucked and heels lifted. Bend generously into the front knee. Lengthen the tailbone down. Reach the hands overhead. Keep sinking the hips low.
Step up and repeat 4 and 5 on the other side.
6. Three Legged Dog – Bring the hands down, step the feet back, and lift hips up and back to downward dog. Kick the right leg up to the sky. Bend the knee and open up the hip. Set the right foot down and repeat on the other side.
7. Easy Child’s Pose – Keeping feet hip width, bring the knees down and then sit back on the heels. Reach hands back at the sides as you fold down, resting the forehead on the mat. Take at least 5 deep breaths here.
These 7 poses come from my Calm Connection class on YouTube and within my app.
Kassandra
