What if we told you that you’ve got a superhero inside you? No really. Your body has been concealing some neat abilities you could dig out at any time.
Have you ever seen a yogi with their legs tangled up in some painful-looking, pretzel-like pose and thought to yourself, “I wish I could do that”? Well, you can! When it comes to yoga, it’s not so much about learning how to do things as learning that you can do things. Just ask a yogi. Or better yet, try it yourself with these beginner yoga poses by FitEngine.
If you try a guided flexibility and mobility workout, you’ll find it’s more unlearning than anything. Over your life, you’ve learned how far you can bend, how well you can balance, and how deeply you can stretch. To unlock your peak performance, you need to forget that.
If just thinking about it makes your joints and muscles squirm, that’s your cue to get up and stretch those legs, stretch and restore yoga style! Skim a beginner’s guide to stretching and mobility for some breathing exercises, and then dive right into these:
The Waterfall Pose
Once you’ve got your breathing in check, you’re good to go. To enter this pose, lie flat on your back on your yoga mat and slowly raise your legs upward until they’re perpendicular to your body. If you’re already struggling to lift your legs, then breathe easy. Not everyone frequents a New York Pilates academy. Try to shift your hips down on the mat without moving your shoulders, so your spine is flush with the ground. Then try again.
Lift from your hips and let the weight shift onto your back, ensuring you distribute it evenly. Remember to breathe deeply and keep your neck and shoulders relaxed. Once you’re forming an L, start bending (without letting your feet move down more than three inches) and straightening your knees slowly. Breathe out as you straighten and in and you bend.
Continue for one minute.
The Bridge Pose
You can transition into this pose right from the waterfall. Gently bring your feet back down to the mat, and take a moment to breathe. Stretching yoga doesn’t look tedious, but you wouldn’t be the only one to be out of breath after.
Now plant your feet on the mat, walk them backward and raise your hips off the ground at the same time. Continue until your feet are directly under your hips, and then, taking a deep breath, relax your whole body, and focus all your energy on raising your hips. Hold this position for at least one minute, and keep pushing upward.
The Warrior II
For this one, you’ll have to stand, but it makes a great addition to every flexibility workout. Place one foot forward and one backward, and hold your hips in the center. Ideally, your feet will be about four feet apart, but you’ll have to see what you can manage comfortably. Then turn your back foot outward, so it’s facing sideways as you face forward, and raise your arms, holding one straight out in front of you and one behind.
Now, without moving your feet, shift your weight slowly from your back foot to your front foot, going as far as you can. Synchronize your breathing with your movement, and try to stretch deeper each time.
Do twenty breaths and then switch feet.
These positions are some of the best yoga for beginners looking to get into stretching yoga classes. FitEngine is in the know about beginner Pilates classes, workout yoga classes, and even Pilates yoga crossover classes, and we share detailed reviews about the same.
If you’re up for the challenge, we can help you find whatever you need. Click here to contact us, and soon you’ll be able to dance away your troubles with musical workouts.
