Yoga for Non-Yoga People

Looking for a change? Life is moving at such a fast pace, and with work, family, home, and social commitments, it can be hard to find time to relax, destress, and unwind while also getting your daily exercise needs. Well, luckily, yoga is one of those activities that will allow you to reap all of these benefits from the comfort of your home, and it only requires 10 minutes a day.

If you have chosen to do yoga at home instead of going down to your local yoga studio, then the Yoga Burn website is a great place for you to visit, as it guides you through the most important information about yoga and yoga poses for beginners, and how to start improving your health and relaxing your body. Here you will find all you need to know about yoga for beginners and, by the end of your reading, you will know what yoga is and how to begin.

The Basics

First, make sure you are well-equipped to start your first workout. You need a mat and appropriate clothing; choose stretchy clothes, which allow you freedom of movement. Yoga is a practice and therapy for everyone, no matter what you earn, look like, weight or what your age is. Make sure you listen to your body, as yoga poses do not inflict pain; if they do, adjust the poses, or even move completely to another pose. It is normal that you will feel a certain level of discomfort in some situations, however, pain is one way your body tells you that something is wrong.

There is a plethora of benefits of doing yoga for your body and mind. It helps you improve your flexibility, improve the health of joints, internal organs and muscles, relaxing your mind and relieving stress and fatigue, counterattack the negative consequences of office jobs and sedentary life, enhance levels of happiness and improve your sleep. As a body and mind therapy, yoga matches health benefits such as lowering the risk of diabetes and auto-immune disorders with psychological benefits, as it is a relaxing, toning and energizing practice.

Once you have grabbed your mat and you are ready to begin, keep in mind to always adjust the poses if necessary. Here you will find the top yoga poses to help you start:

Top Yoga Poses for Beginners

One of the basic, yet amazingly efficient yoga poses is the standing pose. Stand up, keep your feet close together making sure your heels do not touch. Focus on your toes, spread them, and press down. Straighten your back, and slowly roll your shoulders up and down to de-stress. When you inhale, slowly bring your hands upwards above your head. Keep the pose for at least 3 slow breaths.

From standing up, spread your legs almost as wide as your mat and your arms parallel to the floor. Flex your right knee so that it forms an approximate angle of 90 degrees and move your left foot so that it is perpendicular to the right foot. While doing so, turn around your upper body so that the left hip is towards the entrance into the room and your right hip faces the back of the room. Your left arm should be towards the back of the room, while your right arm is facing the front of the room. Keep the pose for at least 2-3 breaths and repeat as necessary.

Another pose useful for beginners starts with being on your hands and knees. Make sure your hands are right under your shoulders. Pushing on your toes, slowly lift the knees from the yoga mat, stretching your legs. If you do it right, you should now be only on your palms and toes. Make sure you keep your body composed and your spine and neck straight. Keep this position for 3 breaths and repeat as necessary. If you enjoy this one, here’s another variation: From this position, where your body is one line, legs stretched, being on your toes and palms, lower your body gently by flexing your arms so that they are both close to your body and a 90-degree elbow angle. Keep this pose for one breath only.

Following the last pose, wherein in your body forms a line, with stretched legs and bent elbows, place your hips on your mat and place your feet down, relaxing them. Focus on your upper body, tighten your abdomen and place your arms perpendicular to the floor. Pulling your shoulders towards the back, raise your head so you can see the ceiling. You can place your knees on the mat as well in order to alleviate the tension placed on your lower back.

Now stand up, with your toes together, make sure your heels do not touch. Place your left foot on your right thigh. Contract your thigh and your foot. If this is troublesome and you cannot find your balance, you can place your foot lower. Once you are balanced, lift your arms so that your hands are in a praying position in front of you. You can also place your hands high above your head. Keep the pose for at least five breaths and switch to the other side.

Lastly, if you are looking for a great relaxing and de-stressing pose to end your workout, try sitting down with your legs stretched in front of you. Keep your head up and straighten your core and your back. Slowly reach forward with your hands to touch, if you can, your feet or your ankles. Make sure your back is straight through the entire process. If this exerts too much pressure, you can gently flex your knees to help you stretch forwards.

Final Thoughts

Overall, yoga can be for anybody looking for a 10-minute workout to de-stress and work out at the same time. Try these poses and find many more on the Yoga Burn website and start practicing yoga in the comfort of your own home. And there you have it. Namaste.