Yoga Poses to Start Your Day Off Right www.fytso.com /magazine/yoga-poses-to-start-your-day-off-right/

Many people know of yoga as a way to burn calories or tone muscles, but did you know when practicedproperly, yoga can be a great way to start your day off with energy and good intentions? These poses canhelp clear your mind, find your balance and prepare for the day ahead when practiced in the morning:

Child’s Pose

Typically used as a resting pose during intense yoga sessions, child’s pose is a great way to start off yourmorning on a calm and soothing note. This pose stretches out muscles in the back, chest and neck,making it a perfect way to lengthen your muscles after a long night’s sleep.

Perfect your pose:

1. While on your hands and knees, spread your knees wide (about the distance of the width of a yogamat). Keep your big toes touching.

2. Lengthen your torso by deeply inhaling, and then bow forward on the exhale.

3. Rest your chest on top or between your thighs, with your forehead coming all the way down to themat or floor.

4. Bring your arms on either side of you, with palms facing up, and hands resting by your feet.

5. Hold this pose for about a minute, or as long as you need to feel relaxed and stretched out.Remember to lengthen your back and neck throughout the duration of the pose.

Lord of the Dance Pose

After you your body is slightly stretched with child’s pose, try the lord of the dance pose for a deeper, moreintense shoulder, back and chest stretch. By tackling a tough balance pose like this first thing in themorning, you’re forcing yourself to focus thoughts on maintaining that balance, therefore clearing yourhead and preparing for the day ahead.

Perfect your pose:

1. Start in an upright standing position. Begin shifting weight into your right foot and simultaneouslylifting your left foot behind you.

2. Soften the bend in your standing knee.

3. As your left knee bends and your foot gets closer to your butt, reach your left hand behind you andgrab the outer side of your left foot.

4. Use your hand to continue to lift your left foot up and back away from you, as if you are kicking intoyour left hand.

5. Reach the right arm in front of you, keeping hands active with pointed fingers.

6. Hold this pose for five deep breaths before switching to the other side.

Upward Facing Dog Pose

You may have heard of downward facing dog, but have you ever tried an upward facing dog? Whenpracticed in the morning, this chest-opener will act as a way for your mind and body to welcome a newday. Focus on keeping the shoulder blades close together to expose your heart to the world, and let thispositive intention guide your thoughts and actions for the remainder of the day.

Perfect your pose:

1. Lie belly down on the floor, with legs stretched and feet pressed against your mat.

2. Stretch your arms slightly in front of you, and firmly press your hands into the mat.

3. Let this firm press slowly lift your torso up until arms are straight, and your legs upwards a fewinches off of the mat.

4. Feet should remain firmly pressed to the ground, but the rest of the leg should be lifted.

5. Open your chest by pushing your shoulder blades together and keep shoulders down away fromyour ears.

6. Take 3-5 deep breaths before releasing from this pose.

Tree Pose

Want to have a day full of balance? Start every morning off with a tree pose. Physically working throughthe wobble of finding balance in this one-legged pose will help you tackle daily stresses with a level head.Another benefit? You’ll also be toning the muscles in your legs and butt!

Perfect your pose:

1. Stand upright with hands by your side and begin shifting your weight into your right foot.

2. Once you feel a sense of balance, begin drawing your left foot up your right leg until it is firmlyplanted against your thigh, toes pointed down.

3. Firmly press your left foot into your right thigh to maintain balance.

4. Slowly bring your hands into a prayer in front of you.

5. Stay for five deep inhales, and then repeat on the other side.

Remember to adjust the pose to your abilities. If you cannot balance with your foot pressed against yourthigh, try keeping it at your shin instead. If this doesn’t work out either, lower it to your ankle.

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