#YogaEveryDamnDay – Day 24: Five Yoga Poses for Newbies

#YogaEveryDamnDay – Day 24: Five Yoga Poses for Newbies

Before I begin, I was told by someone VERY special to me that I absolutely MUST shout her out on my blog because it’s her birthday so…*clears throat*

Happy 11th Birthday to my favorite girl,
my daughter K!

Okay, back to yoga things:

Since I started my day with hot yoga at 5:30am (I thought I said I wasn’t doing that THAT early again..), I don’t have a routine to post today. Instead, I want to dedicate this #YEDD blog post to my favorite type of yogis: beginners.

One thing all yogis should remember – regardless of their skill level – is that we all started somewhere. My yoga journey began as an 80s kid in Southside Chicago, watching Priscilla Patrick and Lilias Folan on PBS. Maybe you have a similar story from your childhood or later. Perhaps your yoga journey began by reading this blog. Or maybe…you haven’t started yet because you aren’t sure where to begin!

Well, I am here to assist! Here are five introductory poses (along with their traditional Sanskrit names) that most beginners can use to kickstart a yoga journey of their own – give them a try:

  • Mountain (Tadasana) – Stand tall with your big toes touching and your feet grounded on your mat. Your palms should face front with your gaze straight ahead.
  • Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Shvanasana)- Place your palms flat on your mat with your feet grounded 4-5 feet away, forming your body in the shape of a triangle. If your feet aren’t flat on the floor, it’s OK to allow a soft bend in your knees until you can work your heels to the mat.
  • Low Lunge (Anjaneyasana) – With your palms grounded on your mat, place your left foot between them and align your left knee over your foot. Your right knee rests on the mat, sliding back until you feel a healthy stretch in your right quad muscle (front thigh). With your heart forward, lift your chest and rest into the pose.
  • Extended Triangle (Utthita Trikonasana) – Position your left foot to face the long edge of your mat with you right foot pointed to the top of your mat. With your torso facing forward, dip your left hip out and reach toward the right. Bending at your waist, reach your high hand toward the right calf/ankle/mat (wherever you can reach is OK). Your left arm should reach straight above you, aligned with your shoulder.
  • Child’s Pose (Balasana) – Kneel with your knees spread as far apart as comfortable. Get your bottom as close to your heels as you can, then fold over with your arms stretched out in front of you.

Once you become comfortable with these five poses, you can try these short (15 minutes or less!) beginner flows from my YouTube faves Kassandra and Arianna. Don’t forget to update me in the comments below – I can’t wait to hear how your yoga journey is beginning!

See you on the mat tomorrow!
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