Ommmm… If just reading that helped you take a deep breath and relax, then chances are you are one of the 15% of Americans who have already discovered the wonders of the ancient practice of yoga. And for good reason.
After all, yoga has an array of benefits, including improved flexibility, better balance, and mental clarity. Additionally, yoga can also serve as a full-body workout to build strength and even assist in weight loss. And these benefits are just the tip of the iceberg.
With so much to offer, it’s no wonder so many people have taken up yoga. And if you are considering joining them, now is the perfect time! After all, June 21st will be the 7th annual celebration of International Yoga Day. So if you start now, you can get in on the fun!
If you aren’t sure where to start, we have you covered. Here are a few yoga poses that you can easily add to your daily routine.
1. Downward-Facing Dog
The downward-facing dog is one of the most recognizable yoga poses out there. It involves bending over with your arms stretched out to touch the floor while keeping your legs straight. This yoga pose is often featured as a transition pose from sitting, crouching, or kneeling positions.
One of the biggest perks of the downward-facing dog pose is that it stretches many of your body’s muscle groups, which makes it an awesome winding down pose after a workout. It is also a great way to ease stiffness after sleeping.
2. Cobra
The cobra position is a great position to follow the downward-dog, but it can also easily be done by itself. Start by laying down on your mat with your hands directly under your shoulders and your toes pointed. As you exhale, begin to straighten your arms and press your hands and feet into your mat until you lift your torso, hips, and legs off the floor.
If you are just starting, you can modify this pose by keeping your legs on the mat and just lifting your torso and hips.
3. Pigeon
The pigeon pose may need a bit of time and practice to get right as a yoga beginner. However, once you get the body contortion right, this is one of the most fun and versatile yoga poses out there.
This pose is best accomplished by beginning in a plank position. From there, bring your right knee forward toward your right hand, bending your knee and placing your foot as close to your left hand as possible. Keep your back leg straight, your toes pointed, and your hips even as you press up through your hands and relax your weight straight down.
The pigeon pose has a lot to offer when it comes to post-workout stretching, as it’s a great way to stretch most of your body, including your torso, legs, and hips.
4. Bridge
The bridge pose is perfect for both beginners and seasoned yogis. This pose is very simple. Start by lying on your back with your knees bent. Then gently lift your hips up while keeping your head and shoulders on the ground.
This pose may be simple but its benefits are profound. It is a particularly awesome pose for dealing with back stiffness, and it’s a great position for breathing and mindfulness practices.
5. Tree Pose
For the most part, the tree pose is a pretty simple yoga pose. Just stand on one leg, tuck the other foot against your inner thigh, and raise your arms above your head. Simple enough right?
Well, keeping your balance is the tricky part. This is what makes this yoga pose worthy of a spot in your daily routine. Not only will it help you work on your balance, flexibility, and strength but it is also a really good pose for meditation, breathing exercises, and mindfulness practices.
6. Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose
If you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, the legs-up-the-wall yoga pose might just help you turn things around. This pose is simple enough to do from the comfort of your bed and will help you stretch as well as relax.
You can do the classic version with your legs straight up against a wall and your body flat on the ground or bed.
But if you want to challenge yourself and see extra benefits like strengthening your core, you could try the modified version. Just use your hands or a rolled-up towel to support your lower back and lift your pelvis and legs off the bed or ground.
7. Anything You Find Fun
There are technically 84 officially recognized asanas (or yoga poses) and each of them has a variety of benefits.
So if you are truly interested in taking yoga seriously, do some research, take a few classes, and discover more poses to add to your routine. After all, sticking to just a handful can get boring after a while, so make sure you keep things interesting by exploring new poses.
Celebrate International Yoga Day With Us
Here at New Earth, we believe everybody deserves to live a happy and healthy life, and yoga can help you do just that. Since yoga has so many benefits and can be so simple to add to your routine, it is no wonder we consider it part of living the #NewEarthLife.