Tough It Thursday - Edition Two

Welcome back for our second edition of "Tough It Thursday"...

How did everyone do with the at home challenge from last week? 

Click here to read it.

I personally thought I might pass out (after I was done cursing the burpee type section... Ugggh!), and am thankful for my children who cheer me on! lol.

I know I should have *probably* been doing last weeks workout at least every second day.... But that wasn't happening! lol So once in the week was good enough for me... Hey, at least I did it!

This week I thought I'd give us all something that we can use at anytime of the day... At home, at work, on break, in the park, with kids, family, friends, etc. 

I know it's called, 'Good Morning yoga sequence' but honestly... It's stretching .. And I figure stretching is good for us all, so it's probably good to do at anytime during the day! 

And if you're hunched over working all the time (as most of us use computers now), this could help with any pains you may have at the end of the day (or middle of the day!).

Link

HOW TO 

(without injuring yourself!)

"This is a 10-15 minute morning sequence designed to wake up the body and target all of the places that might need a little extra space and life breathed into them after a night of sleep. I designed this to be a flowing sequence, allowing one pose to flow into the next. I invite you to try it like this, or if that doesn’t work for you and you prefer to complete one pose at a time, guide yourself through it that way by returning to Downward Facing Dog in between each pose. Otherwise, just flow with it."

1. Malasana - Yogi Squat

Separate your feet a little bit further apart, maybe even as wide as your mat. Turn your toes out slightly. Bend your knees and lower your hips down towards the earth. Bring your hands to prayer in front of your heart and allow the elbows to gently guide the knees and thighs open, keeping length in the spine. Engage mula bandha to experience a greater sense of lightness.Stay here for at least five full breaths.

 

Repeat everything on the second side.

2. Forearm Plank

With toes tucked, lower down onto your elbows and forearms. Keeping the hips in line with the shoulders and your knees off of the ground, stack your shoulders over your elbows, which should be no wider than shoulders distance apart. Keep the back of the thighs pressing up towards the sky, while guiding the heels back and the heart forward. Maintain a strong core and hold here for 30 seconds.

3. Triangle Pose

Tuck the back toes under and spin the left heel down so that the heels are more or less in line with each other. Pressing down through the outer edge of the left foot, begin to straighten your right leg. Engage both legs and consider stacking your left hip over your right. Slide your right hand as far up your right leg as you need to so that you are not collapsing anywhere. Open the left arm up towards the sky, reaching out through the left fingertips.

4. Low Lunge Variation

With your right toes pointing straight ahead and the outer edge of the right foot parallel to the outer edge of the mat, lower your left knee down to the earth. Place your hands on top of your right thigh or reach them up to the sky. Soften the tailbone down and draw the low belly off of the thigh. Stay here for five breaths allowing the right heel to energetically draw back and the left hip to energetically move down and forward towards the right heel.

5. Easy Lunge Twist

Step your right foot to the outside of your right hand so that your right foot is closer to the right edge of the mat. Turn your toes out to a 45 degree angle (like 10:00). Keep the left knee lifted and press the thigh up towards the sky. Press down into the earth with the left hand and open the right arm up towards the sky. Stay here for at least five breaths.

6. Open Hip

From Downward Facing Dog lift your right leg all the way up to the sky behind you. Keeping the arms very strong, bend your right knee and stack your right hip over your left, opening up the hip, groin and thigh. Gently press the left heel down into the earth, being mindful to keep that heel from splaying out to the side.

7. Sundial Salutation

With feet hip-distance apart, fold forward and place your hands on your elbows. Bring your torso toward the outside of the right leg and open your chest so that your left elbow points up toward the sky. Moving like a sundial, lead with your left elbow and slowly come up the right side, reaching up at the top and then continue to lower down the left side, keeping the chest open and the shoulders down. Repeat 3 times on each side.

8. Chest to Thighs with Interlaced Hands

Stand at the back of your yoga mat with your feet together and carefully bow forward, hinging from your hips and not your low back. Reach your hands behind your back and interlace your fingers, pressing the palms together. Bend your knees and press your chest into and down your thighs, keeping your neck long. Hold for five breaths.

As with any exercise related activity, drink plenty of fluids (before, during and after), eat right and pay attention to your body (don't cause harm to it, but still challenge yourself a little bit). As well, wear the proper 'gear'!

Consult your Doctor first if you're new to this whole working out thing (or the type of working out listed above) to make sure you're ready for it!

I look forward to hearing your experiences next week! And we get to hear from Kaylin again! Yay!