Yoga For Better Posture http://archive.spright.

com/exercises/yoga-for-better-posture/

Jackelyn Ho

1. These yoga poses will help improve your posture

2. Warm up and always ease into these poses
3. Start with the first pose and work up to the full set

Take a second and do a quick body scan. Are you sitting or standing up straight? If
youre a bit hunched, try rolling your shoulders back into the shoulder joint, lengthening
your spine from your tailbone to the top of your head, and taking a deep breath. Its
natural to collapse your upper body because it can feel easier. Your core wants to take a
break from holding up your body, and your muscles want to relax. Although that may feel
nice for a second, over time it leads to poor posture and a tired chest.

These yoga poses will make you walk, talk, and stand proud. Start with the relaxing
extended puppy pose, and work your way up to trying all the poses this list.

Descriptions by Arielle Rabier (http://ariellerabier.com/)

1. UTTANA SHISHOSANA (Extended Puppy pose)

Start in childs pose with the toes together and knees wider than the body so the torso
can drop down between the thighs. Extend the arms long in front of you and rest the
forehead on the ground. Enjoy five to ten breaths here, connecting with the body and
breath.

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Lift up onto your hands and knees, aligning the shoulders over the wrists and hips over
the knees. While keeping the hips over the knees, walk the hands out in front of you
without letting the elbows touch the ground. Rest your forehead on the floor or on a
blanket and reach your tailbone up and back while keeping a slight curve in your lower
back. To feel the spine lengthen in both directions, press the hands down and stretch
through the arms while pulling your hips back toward your heels. After five to ten breaths,
sit the hips back onto the heels, returning to Childs pose.

2. URDHVA MUKHA SVANASANA (Upward Facing Dog)

Place the hands under the shoulders and press the tops of the feet down as you
press into the palms to extend the arms and lift the chest, lower ribs, and thighs off the
ground. Draw the shoulder blades together, allowing the chest to broaden, and puff the
side ribs forward. Externally rotate the upper arm bones so the elbow creases point
forward, draw the tailbone down towards the heels, lift through the quadriceps, and relax
the buttocks. Lift the chin slightly to keep the neck aligned with the spine and avoid
compressing the low back. Take five breaths here, then bend the knees to sit the hips
back to the heels, returning to Childs pose.

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3. BADDHA VIRABHADRASANA I (Humble Warrior)

Move into Warrior I (virabhadrasana I) by pointing both hip bones to the top of your mat.
Draw the right hip back and send the left hip forward. For this variation, widen your
stance so the feet are hip-width apart for better balance. Interlace your hands behind
your back (use a belt or strap if the palms dont connect). Inhale and extend your arms,
reaching the fists down and lifting the heart. Exhale as you hinge forward at the hips,
resting your chest on the front thigh. Breathe into the space between the shoulder
blades, relax the crown of the head down and create more distance between the fists and
the low back. Do your best to keep the back leg straight, a 90-degree bend in the front
knee, and level hips. After five breaths inhale up to standing.

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4. SETU BANDHA SARVANGASANA (Bridge pose)

Lie on your back and extend your arms alongside the body. Bend your knees and
walk your heels closer to your seat, keeping the legs hip-width apart. Exhale and press
your feet and arms into the ground as you lift the hips off the floor. Rotate the pelvis so
the tailbone is tilting toward the knees and thighs stay parallel. Interlace your hands
underneath the body, extend the arms as you draw the shoulder blades together, and roll
onto the shoulder mounds; press the pinky fingers into your mat. Use the strength of your
legs to bring the hips a little higher and the chest closer to the chin. After five breaths,
release the hands wider then the body and roll your spine down to the ground.
Lower your knees to the right and left repeatedly to release the lower back.

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5. DHANURASANA (Bow pose)

Lie on your belly with your hands alongside the body. Rest your forehand on the mat,
bend the knees, and reach back for your ankles. Inhale, keeping knees parallel as you
begin to press the ankles into the hands, causing the chest to lift off the floor. Engage the
abdomen and breathe into the rib cage. Keep the neck in line with the spine by tucking
the chin slightly. Allow the chest to open and draw the shoulder blades down the back.
After four or five breaths, release with an exhale. Option to repeat this pose two or
three additional rounds.

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Last updated on August 12, 2015

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