How to Do a Short but Effective Yoga Workout

While some exercise fads come and go people have been practicing yoga for centuries. Yoga is a great way to gain strength, flexibility and unwind. There are several types of yoga including Hatha yoga which is one of the most popular forms. Even a short yoga workout can be invigorating and relaxing. Yoga can improve posture and blood flow to the body's organs and tissues.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Set aside ten to twenty minutes a day. Most people are busy juggling careers and family life. It can be difficult to find the time to workout. But even the busiest person can usually squeeze in twenty minutes of yoga a day.

2. Clear a space and gather what you need. You don't want to stop in the middle of your yoga workout for a towel or a drink or water. If needed clear furniture out of your way. Play some soft music. Focus on your body's movements, breathing and clear distracting thoughts from your mind.

3. Stretch and warm-up before starting your yoga workout. Roll your shoulders and rotate your neck. Perform a cat stretch. Get on all fours and slowly round your back. This is a good stretch for the entire back.

4. Perform the downward dog. Get down on your hands and knees. Keep your feet and hands on the ground while pushing your hips up to form an inverted V. This pose works your legs, arms and back.

5. Learn a few yoga poses that work the major muscle groups. To benefit from a short yoga workout one pose for each major muscle group should be performed. Take a yoga class or buy an instructional video to learn such poses as the half-moon, the locust and the pigeon.

6. Do yoga poses which flow naturally from one pose to the next. For example do standing poses first than move onto the sitting poses and inversions. This will help your yoga workout flow more smoothly and go quicker.

7. Breathe correctly. To gain relaxation benefits from a quick yoga workout, breathing should be slow and controlled. Breathe in deeply through your nose and fill your lungs completely. Exhale slowly through the nose.

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[irenelahm]

on 9/13/2009 HOW DO I USE THIS "eHow"? ALL I WANT IS TO SEE AN INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEA OF AN INVERSION TABLE. I ALSO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT BUILDING A SMALL BRIDGE.DID I MISUNDERSTAND WHAT THIS SITE WAS ALL ABOUT? THANKS, [e-mail]

[djtphn1]

on 2/4/2008 What I was really looking for were poses to incorporate into the enitre workout, not just downward facing dog. I need the entire workout set out along w/ poses. But thanks anyways.