If you’re slumped over for a good part of the day--whether it’s at work over a desk or at home over the sink--your posture is suffering, and so is your breath. Do the chest opener with yoga blocks to stretch the chest area, making it easier for your lungs to breathe as deep and as long as they should.
Use Integral Yoga Relaxation Techniques
Integral yoga is a system of physical poses (asanas), breathing, meditation and mantra recitations. Integral yoga is designed to integrate the whole being, relying upon raja yoga, bhakti yoga, jnana yoga and Hatha yoga.
Assume the Gate Pose in Yoga
Though it is performed in a kneeling position, the Gate Pose, or Parighasana in Sanskrit, is considered one of the traditional standing postures in yoga. As you move into the form, you should feel not only a stretch at the sides of your body, but also to the hamstrings and spine. Much like a number of the standard yoga posture in practice today, Gate stimulates the organs of your abdominal region. Sequencing this pose into your daily practice can be quite easy as you can naturally and effortlessly move from Downward Facing Dog, Hero, Bound Angle, and Reclining Big Toe.
Use Crescent Yoga Poses to Shape Hips
Although much of the grace and beauty of practicing yoga lies in its ability to move us through a sequence of postures in a dance-like fashion, working and breathing in every pose, there are also strong muscle toning benefits, too.Vinyasa yoga is characterized by linking several poses together in an intelligent way to challenge the body and deepen the breath to form a kind of moving meditation.Crescent pose is a challenging pose that is done with one foot forward planted flat and the other foot with the back heel lifted in a wide stance. Arms are extended straight up and can be apart or with palms touching. Doing a strong balance pose shapes and can help firm up the back of the hips. Gluteus maximus are the largest muscles at the back of the hips and what many people focus on to create a trim bottom line.Yogis practice for many reasons, whether for stress management or as a spiritual practice. Working in these poses always makes us stronger and more able to withstand the rigors of our workaday schedules. Below are preparation poses that lead into Crescent Pose, which powerfully shapes the glutes and teaches us how to lift up out of the low back to create height and poise.
Do a Yoga Prayer Squat
Yoga Prayer Squat is an intermediate level deep bending posture that helps to stretch and open the hips and inner thigh. It can also feel very good as this position takes pressure off of the back. It does require some balance and it is not a good posture for those with knee sensitivities. Below are the instructions to get into this posture. Each step takes you into the pose a little deeper, so stop at whatever step feels appropriate for you. With continued practice you will eventually be able to go deeper.