Easy Yoga Poses For Relaxation
One of our favorite parts of our morning routine here at Altha is a relaxing 10–15-minute yoga session. Yoga is one of the best, cheapest, and most effective ways to restore the mind-body-soul connection when it is out of balance. Although we love going to yoga classes of all variety’s (vinyasa, heated, kundalini etc.) sometimes all we have the time and energy for is a few poses to realign ourselves and connect with our bodies. These poses (especially when done in a series) are great as a part of your morning routine, after a workout, to wind down in the evening, or to come back to whenever you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed.
We recommend holding each pose for at least 5 breaths, and here are some of our favorites:
Child’s Pose
How To: Kneel on a mat or carpet with your legs together and slowly sit back onto heels. Extend your torso forward from the hips so your chest rests on your thighs and your forehead is placed gently on the ground in front of you. Either rest your hands next to your feet with your palms up or forward past your head (depending on what feels best to you).
Benefits: Relieves tension, relaxes the nervous system, soothes the mind
2. Tree Pose
How To: Stand with both feet firmly on the floor. Then shift your weight to one foot and begin to lift the other foot. Place the raised foot either onto your inner thigh or your inner calf depending on what is most comfortable for you. Bring your hands into prayer position or apart above your head and focus your gaze on something that does not move to help you keep your balance. Once finished, repeat on the other side.
Benefits: Provides focus, relieves stress, strengthens the legs and core, improves balance
3. Warrior 2
How To: From a standing position, stretch your arms straight out from your shoulders and your feet parallel to each other in a wide stance (your ankles should be approximately beneath your wrists). Turn your right foot and knee to face the front of the mat. Angle your left toes slightly in toward the upper left corner of the mat, then bend your right knee and so it is over your right ankle. Reach strongly through both arms toward the front and back of the mat and turn your head to look past your right fingertips. Once finished, repeat on the other side.
Benefits: Strengthens your core, shoulders, and quads, cultivates resilience, promotes feelings of inner strength
4. Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose
How To: Lie down on your back in front of a flat wall. Scoot towards the wall while placing your legs up the wall until your legs are flat up against it in a 90-agree angle from your back.
Benefits: Releases tension, eases stress, alleviates tired legs and feet
5. Seated Twist Pose
How To: Start with your legs out in front of you while seated, then bend your knees and bring your right foot close to your left buttocks and you left foot flat on the ground outside your right thigh, Then, sit up tall and place your left hand behind you to serve as a stabilizer. Then bring your right elbow across your body and place it on the outside of your left knee while twisting. Once finished, switch sides.
Benefits: Aids with digestion, releases tension, moves stagnant energy
6. Standing Forward Bend
How To: Stand up as tall as you can with your arms stretched upwards, the reach forwards and down until you can press your hands against the floor or your legs (it is ok to bend your knees). Feel free to sway back and forth and shake your head as desired to further release tension.
Benefits: Relieves stress and tension, stretches out hamstrings and hips
7. Cat-Cow Pose
How To: On a mat or carpeted surface go onto your hands and knees with head stretched out forwards. For cat pose, round your bag towards the ceiling and bring your navel to your spine while exhaling. Once finished, bring back to the neutral position. For cow pose, then tilt your pelvis backwards so your tailbone sticks up into the air and your shoulders spread – all while inhaling. Once finished, head back to neutral position and then go back to cat pose on the exhale.
Benefits: Stretches the lower back, moves stagnant energy, relieves stress
8. Shavasana (Corpse Pose)
How To: To close your practice, simply lie down flat on the floor with your legs hip distance apart and your arms by your sides with both palms facing up. Close your eyes and focus on your breathing – feel free to hold this pose as long as you like.
Benefits: Deep relaxation, lowers blood pressure, quiets the mind
Yoga at Altha
Here at Altha we are thrilled to include yoga sessions in partnership with renowned teacher Mychal V. Prieto as one of our Offerings in the form of our Yoga & Sound Bath combo. This combo serves to facilitate the mind-body-soul connection by moving the body before relaxing into a restorative sound healing session. To book a private experience for your group or organization, Connect with Us.
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New to Altha? We are an LA-based modern sound healing-focused wellness company committed to creating bespoke experiences in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Marina Del Rey, Orange County and beyond!
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