It’s the most wonderful time of the year, also the most indulgent time of the year! Between the cookies and cocktails you might be feeling a little, how should I put this, BLAH! Here’s a few yoga asanas to help cure the most common holiday alignments.
Feeling a little bloated? Try Dhanurasana.
This pose will help massage your internal organs. Lie on your stomach, hands alongside your body and palms up. Exhale and bend knees up not letting them separate wider than hip distance. Reach back and grab ankles from the outside. Inhale lift your heels away from your body and lift your thighs away from the floor. This will start to pull your upper torso and head off the floor, keep your back muscles soft. As you continue lifting the heels and thighs higher, press your shoulder blades firmly against your back, draw the shoulders away from your ears. Breath here for 20-30 seconds then gently release and move into child’s pose.
Bright lights and stale air of the mall giving you a headache? Try a variation of Child’s pose.
Kneeling on the floor. Touch your big toes together and sit on your heels, then separate your knees hip distance apart. On your exhale sit your tailbone back to your heals and reach your arms forward. This might be a great relief staying here, if you like to lift your hips on top of your knees take the crown of the head to the floor and interlace your fingers above your head, if wrist go a little wonky press into the index finger knuckles, again breath here for 20 to 30 seconds then release back to child’s pose.
Got a hot date? Try a Downdog for that winter glow!
Adho Mukha Svasansan is great for the circulatory system which will help freshen you up! From child’s pose come to all for stacking your joints. Rotate over your toes extending your heels up towards the ceiling pulls knees towards chest as you tuck the tailbone under and lift from the core stretching the legs straight as you can. Spread fingertips wide pressing the head towards the upper arms. Keep engaged with your muscles throughout the posture feel free to hang out here from 1-3 min.
And worst of all, have a holiday hangover? Try Ardha Matsyendrasana!
In this seated twist you will help stimulate the liver and kidneys by literally wringing yourself out. Stretch left leg out and cross right foot over left leg, bending the knee, then bend left knee so it’s parallel to your mat. On an inhale stretch right finger tips behind and left fingertips up on the exhale begin to twist left elbow to the outside of the right knee. Keep weight even between hips hold here 20-30 seconds slowly release and switch to other side.
Holidays having you feel a little stressed? Take a few minutes to enjoy legs up the way! That’s it! Put your legs up the wall close your eyes and breath……
Ground the sitting bones even, keep the legs slightly firm and relax!
About the Author
Heidi Templeton is a former competitive gymnast and Bay Area yoga instructor specializing in vinyasa, hot, and standup paddle board yoga. Heidi shares her zest for all things health and wellness at www.facebook.com/HeidiFit.
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