Who says you can't do Yoga? Many people assume that Yoga is just for for women or uber-progressive millennials. Wrong! Anyone can incorporate yoga poses into their daily routine and obtain significant physical health and mental health benefits.
These beginner yoga poses will help you get started on your journey to relaxation, flexibility and strength.
The Downward Dog Pose
Begin with your hands and feet on the ground as if you were mimicking a dog's stance. Walk forward a couple of inches while spreading out your fingers and sliding your palms along the floor. Created an inverted “V” shape by pressing your hips toward the sky and curling your toes. Bend slightly at the knees, keep your feet aligned with your hips and hold the pose as you inhale and exhale three times.
The Warrior Pose
Stand with your legs about four feet apart. Move your left foot to create a 90 degree angle. Move your other foot inward. Pull your hands to your hips, allow your shoulders to slump and move your arms to your sides with your palms facing the ground. Bend your left knee to create another 90 degree angle. Hold this pose for a full minute. Alternate sides and repeat.
The Mountain Pose
Begin by standing as tall as you can. Keep your feet together, relax your shoulders and distribute your weight as evenly as possible across your feet. Hold your arms at your sides, inhale deeply and lift your hands above your head. Move your palms so they face one another. Keep your arms straight throughout this pose. Lift them as high as you can and return to the starting position.
The Triangle Pose
Begin by standing with your feet a few feet apart. Move the toes on your left foot to turn and create a 90 degree angle. The toes on your right foot should form a 45 degree angle. Stretch out your arms to the sides of your body. Bend over your left leg. Move your left hand to the floor. If you struggle to reach the floor, move the left hand to your left leg's knee. Raise your right hand as high as you can. Lift your head toward the sky. Hold this position for five deep breaths. Repeat on the opposite side.
The Tree Pose
Stand upright with your arms dangling at your sides. Move your body weight to your right leg, place the sole of your left foot to the inside of your right thigh. Move your hands out in front of your body, with your palms touching one another as if you were praying. Move your arms over your shoulders as you inhale. Separate your hands during this movement. Hold the position for half a minute. Return to the starting position and perform the pose with the opposite side. The tree pose is facilitated with the movement of your left foot toward the inside of your right ankle. Be sure to keep your toes firmly pressed against the floor for balancing purposes.
Perform these simple yoga poses on a daily basis and you will find that your mental stress levels drop and your physical flexibility increases. The best part is that you won't have to pay for expensive exercise equipment or invest hours of your free time to obtain the myriad of benefits that these yoga poses provide. Once you master them, you can move on to intermediate yoga poses and beyond.
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