Yoga studios can be expensive. But if you're a stressed out mom with way too much to do, yoga might be for you. I love it. I'm more fit, strong and sane because I do it several times a week.
I'm very proud that because of yoga, I can now put my leg behind my head, which I haven't done since I was 6. I'm way more bendy.
But I don't always do yoga in a class. Almost every day, I do Sun Salutations at home. They're a good workout, they calms my nerves, my kids like to do them with me, and Sun Salutations are free.
Now for how to do a Sun Salutation.
Without getting all new age yogic, a Sun Salutation is an ancient symbolic move with big physical benefits.
When you try it, be sure to breathe long inhalations and exhalations. Traditionally, these are done at sunrise. But I usually don't have time until the end of the day when my kids are watching Elmo. We make Sesame Street very Zen around my house. I try to do at least 5 to 10, going at my own pace.
Do a Sun Salutation from ABC-of-Yoga.com (click there to see photos):
- Start with the Yoga Mountain Pose. Bring your palms together in prayer position. Exhale.
- As you inhale, raise your arms overhead, keeping your palms together.
- Exhale and then bend forward until your hands touch your feet.
- As you inhale, step the right leg back in a lunge, arch back and lift your chin.
- Exhaling, step the left leg back into plank position. Keep your spine and legs in a straight line and support your weight on hands and feet.
- Retaining the breath, lower your knees, your chest and then your forehead, keeping your hips up and toes curled under.
- Inhaling, stretch forward and bend back. Keep your arms straight.
- Exhaling, curl your toes under, press down into your heels, and lift your hips into Downward Dog.
- As you inhale, move your left leg back, with the top of the foot stretched out flat on the floor, and lift your chin.
- Exhale and then bend forward until your hands touch your feet.
- Inhaling, stretch your arms forward and over your head. Slowly bend backward from the waist.
- Exhaling, gently come back to Tadasana, which is standing pose.
Do you do yoga at home?
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