Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises Yoga: Strengthen Your Core and Improve Bladder Control

Training your pelvic floor muscles is as necessary as training any other muscle. In this video we will go through five different pelvic floor muscle exercises yoga on how to train your pelvic muscles. A lot of people are not familiar with how it works so I’ll break it down for you so that even if it would be your first time, you’ll have no problem understanding what’s going on. 

5 Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises Yoga Infographic

pelvic floor muscle exercises yoga infographic

Mountain Pose – Tadasana

Come standing in a Mountain Pose, with your legs together, shoulders rolled back and spine straight. Let’s start by a simple exercise. Place a block in between your thighs and squeeze it.

You should be feeling your pelvic muscles contracting themselves. Squeeze the block for 5-10 breaths at a time and release. Let’s repeat this 3 times. Remember to breath even if you’re squeezing. When done, come laying on your back.

Mountain Pose - Tadasana

Bridge Pose Variation – Setu Bandhasana

Pull knees close to your buttocks and place a block between your thighs. Place arms beside your body and start lifting your pelvis up slowly, keeping your upper back on the floor.

Breathe in and out and release. Let’s repeat this consciously 10 times. Then exhale, release your block and bring the soles of your feet together.

Bridge Pose with Block betw. Knees Variation - Setu Bandasana    pelvic floor muscle exercises yoga

Reclined Bound Angle Pose – Supta Baddha Konasana

Inhale, relax your pelvic floor, let your knees drop on the sides. Stay here for a little and just see how your body feels. Inhale, and exhale push your knees up together. Whilst you push your knees up, lift your pelvic floor slightly up and contract your abs, so that you feel the pulse. Repeat 10 times.

Reclined Bound Angle Pose - Supta Baddha Konasana

Happy Baby Pose – Ananda Balasana

Exhale, bend knees to chest, toes pointing towards the roof and inhale, grab a hold of your feet (hands outside of legs). If you can’t reach your legs, hold onto a strap. Make sure your ankles are on top of your knees in a 90 degree angle. Bringing them to your armpits. Gently start pushing your legs up whilst you drag them down with your hands.

Happy Baby Pose - Ananda Balasana          pelvic floor muscle exercises yoga

Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose – Viparita Karani

Next, move close to a wall so that you can lift your legs up and place either a blanket or a block underneath your buttocks. If your knees feel like they are more comfortable bent or your pelvis is tucked in, come a little off the wall.

First we will do a little exercise with our legs so after adjusting yourself, making sure your upper body is comfortably on the ground (place something underneath upper back and head if you can’t relax). Open legs slowly, not all the way but just so that you feel a little stretch, and then pull them back together. Repeat five times slowly.

Then we will just keep our legs up so if this feels hard you might want to strap a yoga belt around your shins to keep them together.

Now just relax, let your legs rest on the wall for as long as it feels necessary for you today. You can even place something on your eyes and have a meditative moment in here. 

Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose - Viparita Karani

Featured Video:5 Good Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises Yoga

About

Sara

I went to Tattvaa Yogashala which was the first Ashtanga school brought to Rishikesh by Yogi Kamal Singh Ji. I truly enjoyed learning about the philosophy of yoga Read More..

Ready to take your yoga practice further? Click here to access yoga courses to start your journey toward lasting wellness today.

How To Improve Flexibility Fast

Join me on this short but effective flow to improve your flexibility fast! This is a sequence designed for all level practitioners. Increase your blood flow, stretch your muscles and gain clarity!

How To Improve Flexibility Fast: A Surprising Personal Journey

If you’re wondering how to improve flexibility fast, my story might offer some unexpected inspiration. I never considered myself a flexible person, and improving flexibility wasn’t even on my radar when I began practicing yoga. In fact, I came from a background of heavy weight training and almost zero stretching, which eventually led to persistent lower back pain.

The Turning Point: Discovering Yoga

My journey started casually. About two years ago, I decided to give yoga a try, not with the intent to become more flexible but simply to move better and relieve some pain. Even casual yoga sessions made a noticeable difference. My posture improved, and I gradually became more aware of my body’s capabilities. Flexibility, as it turns out, became a side benefit.

An Accidental Breakthrough in Flexibility

Here’s where it gets interesting. One day, after a standard warm-up at the gym, I was experimenting with stretches and decided to attempt a half split. To my surprise, it felt easy. On a whim, I thought, “Why not try the full split?” Just a few years prior, I could barely get a meter from the ground.

But this time? I slid my front leg forward and suddenly—I was in a full split. I couldn’t believe it. That’s when I realized: yoga had massively improved my flexibility, even though that was never my original goal.

No More Back Pain and Sky-High Energy

Since starting yoga and unintentionally learning how to improve flexibility fast, my chronic lower back pain has completely disappeared. I feel energized and more aligned every single day. My movements are more fluid, my posture has improved, and I now enjoy a physical freedom I never experienced during my weight training days.

The Takeaway: You Can Improve Flexibility Faster Than You Think

You don’t need to aim for the splits to begin your own flexibility journey. Whether your goal is to relieve pain, improve performance, or simply feel better in your body, incorporating yoga or intentional stretching into your routine can deliver powerful results. If you’re wondering how to improve flexibility fast, consistency and awareness are key. Even a few sessions a week can lead to dramatic changes.


childs pose vector         How To Improve Flexibility Fast

TRAINING TYPE: FLOW SEQUENCE

CATEGORY:YOGA

SUBCATEGORY:FLEXIBILITY & STRENGTH

PLANNED TIME:10-15 MINUTES

LEVEL:ALL LEVELS 

PROPS:NONE

How You Can Improve Flexibility Fast 

Start applying flexibility in your life daily. As in, on top of your stretching routine that you’ve created to yourself sit in Garland pose when waiting or for example eating. It is actually our natural resting pose but we have lost it thanks to the western invention: chairs. Do some warming up straight when you start moving and stretch your stiff parts one minute each. It really is about the constancy on how often you do it and whether you do it well each time. As you do anything, you do everything. Prioritize stretching, I’m pretty sure that each one of us have 5-10 minutes each day to take care of our bodies. 🙂 “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.” -Michael McGriffy

Join me on this short but effective flow to improve your flexibility! This is a sequence designed for all level practitioners. Increase your blood flow, stretch your muscles and gain clarity!

6 Poses To Improve Flexibility Infographic

How to improve flexibility fast         How To Improve Flexibility Fast

Big Toe Pose – Padangusthasana

You might need a block or a strap for this sequence, so keep them handy. Starting from standing in Mountain Pose, inhale, jump or walk you feet so that they are hip width apart. Place your hands on hips, pull the kneecaps up by activating legs, inhale, gaze up and lift chest and with an exhale start folding forward from your hips. Grab onto your big toes with your peace fingers. If you can not grab your toes, grab a strap, place it underneath your feet and hold onto the strap. Remember to keep a slight bend in your knees so that they are not locked. Inhale, straighten back and look up. Exhale, move the crown of your head towards the floor, bend elbows to the sides. Bend knees if necessary. Stay for five breaths.

Big Toe Pose - Padangushtasana          How To Improve Flexibility Fast

Extended Triangle Pose – Utthita Trikonasana

Place hands on hips. Inhale, looked up with a straight spine. Make a step to the right, right foot parallel to the edge of the mat, left heel turned inwards. Exhale, lift arms parallel to the floor and reach out over right foot and bend down. Lift left arm up, following it with your gaze. Now, there are a few different variations in here. You can either grab onto your toes with your  peace fingers, place the hand on the floor, place it on a block or on your shin wherever you reach. It is important to not to put much weight on it, you should basically be able to hold yourself up without the support of the hand. Use your core. Tuck your pelvis in opening it to the front. Open your chest and make sure your legs are straight. Engage your inner thighs and your abdominal muscles. Stay for five breaths. Inhale come up slowly. Exhale, do the other side. Inhale come up, keeping your arms to the sides.

How To Improve Flexibility Fast

Pose Dedicated to the Sage Marichi A – Marichyasana A

Start sitting on your mat coming into Staff pose. Exhale, bend your right knee and bring your feet close to your groin. Be careful if your knee hurts don’t force it. Keep the left leg active, toes pointing towards you. Inhale reach your right arm up to the sky and exhale, wrap it around your right leg and grab the left wrist behind your back. If you can not reach your arm, use a strap. Make sure your both sitting bones are still on the ground. If they are rising up, stay here. If they are firmly on the ground continue with me. Exhale bring your chin towards the shin of the left leg, lengthening forward. Inhale, head up, look up. Exhale bend even deeper. Bow down, recognizing the ray of light that shines within you. Hold for five breaths. Inhale come up. Exhale release. Inhale switch sides.

Pose Dedicated to the Sage Marichi A - Marichyasana A      How To Improve Flexibility Fast

Bridge Pose – Setu Bandhasana

Lowering yourself to the ground, coming to lay on your back. Bend your knees and walk your feet close to your glutes. Make sure your weight is equally distributed on both your feet and that your legs are hips distance apart. Place arms beside your body, reach fingers touching heels. Make sure your knees do not fall to the sides here. Roll shoulders slightly underneath yourself and with an inhale start pushing your hips up to the sky. Interlace fingers behind your back and press your forearms to the ground, giving yourself a slight push higher. If it is hard for you to keep your knees together you can place a block in between them and keep pushing it whilst lifting up. Stay for five breaths. Exhale lowering down, hugging feet into chest. Rocking on your back.

 

Bridge Pose - Setu Bandhasana

Tricep Stretch in Easy Pose – Sukhasana

Sit comfortably with your spine straight cross legged in Easy Pose. Inhale, raise your right arm up and bend it so that your fingers touch in between your shoulder blades. Exhale. Inhale raise the left arm up and place hand on right elbow, and gently push your arm back. Stay here for five breaths and switch sides. Roll your neck a couple times and give yourself a hug.

 

Tricep stretch in easy Pose - Sukhasana

Featured Video: Stretching Routine To Increase Flexibility

How You Can Become More Flexible in One Week

Becoming flexible in a sustainable way takes time. But here are some tips on how to increase your flexibility fast. Define where do you want to become more flexible. Is it your upper or lower body? Both? More hamstrings than quads? Make a plan. Create a sequence and time to follow that sequence of stretches each week. Biomechanist Michael Rowley recommends you to do the stretches about 6 times a week, each one for about  30-60 seconds. I’ll link you a video with the contortionist Sofie Dossi where they break down what stretching does to your body. Eat well and hydrate your body properly. Being hydrated and having a well nourished body will support you in this.

About

Sara

I then realized how big of a shift my life had taken to a better direction since starting yoga. I felt passionate about sharing it with others and Read More..

Ready to unlock your body’s full potential? Click here to access our complete course and discover exactly how to improve flexibility fast with expert-backed techniques and step-by-step guidance.

Exercise for Strength & Flexibility

This article will introduce you to seven different asanas to improve your flexibility and strength, we will be moving through a short but challenging flow using ocean breath helping us to keep warm and to get deeper into our practice. You will be feeling calm but very energized with gained clarity after completing the flow.

7 Essential Asanas: Exercise for Strength & Flexibility

This article introduces a powerful exercise for strength & flexibility by guiding you through seven targeted asanas. Each pose in this sequence is carefully selected to enhance mobility and build full-body strength. As we move through this short but challenging flow, we’ll use ocean breath (Ujjayi breathing) to stay warm and deepen our focus, allowing for a more effective practice.

Why Exercise for Strength & Flexibility Matters

Combining strength and flexibility in your yoga routine supports functional movement, reduces injury risk, and promotes body awareness. This flow is designed not only to stretch and open tight areas but also to stabilize muscles, helping you feel both calm and energized.

Ocean Breath: Deepen Your Flow

Throughout the practice, we use Ujjayi breathing (ocean breath) to build internal heat. This breath control technique allows you to:

  • Stay focused
  • Improve oxygen flow
  • Release tension from the body

With each inhale and exhale, your body becomes more resilient, and your movements grow more intentional.childs pose vector

TRAINING TYPE: FLOW SEQUENCE

CATEGORY:YOGA

SUBCATEGORY:FLEXIBILITY & STRENGTH

PLANNED TIME:15 MINUTES

LEVEL:ALL LEVELS 

PROPS:NONE

7 Yogic Exercises For Strength & Flexibility

Come and join me in this short challenging flow to improve your flexibility and strength! Pause your day by treating your body with this 15min practice, leaving you feeling empowered and calm with gained clarity.

Yoga Exercises For Strength & Flexibility Infographic

exercises for strength and flexibility

Mountain Pose – Tadasana

Coming into a mountain pose, grounding your feet on the ground, rolling shoulder back and engaging legs. Starting your practice with Ujjayi breath. Start by inhaling deep, pulling our pelvic floor up, engaging your abs and exhaling as if you would like to fog the glass. Instead of exhaling through the mouth, exhale through the nose. This is also known as the ocean breath and it is commonly used in practice because it heats the body and keeps you warm throughout the flow.

Mountain Pose - Tadasana

Extended Side Angle Pose – Utthita Parsvakonasana

Inhale, step or jump your feet about 4ft apart, extending arms on the sides, turning the left heel in, right foot parallel to the front edge of the mat. Exhale, bend your right knee over the right ankle, extend right arm out as far as possible before placing it on the floor, outside of the right foot. Now here are a few variations, you can either place your palm completely on the floor, come onto your fingertips, use a block or place your elbow on your knee. Listen to your body and do as it feels today.

Keep your pelvis tucked in, open chest up towards the ceiling, press your right knee into right arm and push the floor with you back foot. If you can not keep your left heel on the ground, you can move yourself close to a wall and place the left foot so that you can press against the wall with it.

Gaze the left hand. If you have any neck problems, don’t try to follow your arm with your gaze, instead, look straight in front of you. Stay here for five long breaths, inhale come up, exhale repeat to the other side. This asana strengthens and stretches the knees, legs and ankles. 

Extended Side Angle Pose - Utthita Parsvakonasana

Revolved Side Angle Pose – Parivrtta Parsvakonasana

Exhale, shift the weight so that your right knee is directly bent over your right ankle. Bring your left elbow outside of your right knee and place your hands in Anjali Mudra. Inhale, open chest towards the ceiling with the help of your arms, press mudra on the knee and adjust your arms so that your hands are in front of your heart center, shoulders wide open. If you want to deepen this posture, place your left arm inside of your right foot, and send your right arm over above your head, following it with your gaze. Again, if your neck is not okay, just keep your gaze directly in front of you. Hold for five breaths, inhale come up, exhale do the other side. This asana improves balance, digestion and stamina.

Revolve Side angle Pose - Parivrtta Parsvakonasana                   Exercises for Strength & Flexibility

Intense Side Stretch Pose – Parshvottanasana

Inhale, come into tadasana, place your hands in namaste behind your back, or if this is not possible, hold opposite elbows behind the back. Inhale, step your right foot back, exhale, turn the left foot in, turn the hips to the right and make sure your legs are active so that you are protecting your knees. Inhale, look up and open chest, exhale press palms together, stretch to the front and then bend down from the hips, bring your chin towards your shin. Make sure your back stays straight. Pull your right hip back so that your hips are square, and lift elbows. Stay for five breaths. Inhale, come up, exhale, turn your hips to the left, shift feet. Inhale open chest, look up, exhale, bend forward. Stay for five breaths.

 

Intense Side Stretch Pose - Parshvottanasana            Exercises for Strength & Flexibility

Eagle Pose – Garudasana

Inhale, returning to Mountain Pose, exhale, bend your knees. Activate your left leg pulling your kneecap up, and inhale, raise your right leg, and cross you right thigh over your left. You can also help your right leg by lifting it with your hands. If you are able to, exhale and bring your right foot into a hook behind you left calf. If this feels impossible and your balance is not quite there yet (don’t worry, it’ll get there after a little practice!), you can also place the right foot on top of a block. Inhale lift arms and cross your left elbow above the right one and bring either your palms or the back of your hand together. If you cannot bring your palms to touch but want a little bit of a deeper stretch, you can hold your left thumb with the fingers of your right hand. Inhale, lift your elbows, and exhale, draw your shoulder blades back. Now from here if you feel good, sit down a little lower, keeping your back still straight. If you have a drishti, a steady point of focus, it will make it a whole lot easier to balance. Stay for 3-8 breaths. Inhale come up, exhale release, inhale repeat to the other side.

This is a great pose because the compression that it builds in the body, it then brings fresh blood everywhere, creating an energizing and detoxifying effect in your body. It also is great for improving your balance, strengthening your lower body, opening your hips and it even helps with pain in the upper back.

 

Eagle Pose - Garudasana               Exercises for Strength & Flexibility

Wide-Legged Forward Bend – Prasarita padottanasana

Returning to Mountain Pose, inhale, raise your arms straight to the sides, walk your your ankles underneath your wrists, feet parallel with the outer edges of the mat, hands on hip joints. Engage and activate your legs by pulling your kneecaps up, inhale deep and look up, lifting chest and the heart up to the sky, tucking pelvis in. Exhale bend forward from your waist, drawing your shoulder blades together whilst you keep on lowering yourself down. Never lock your knees but keep them microbended, not to damage your joints. If you feel pain in your lower back, bend knees even more or come out of the asana. After lowering yourself halfway with a straight back, place both hands on the floor, pressing palms on the mat. between your feet about a shoulder width apart. Relax neck. Lengthen your spine more by bending your elbows, the goal is to bring the crown of your head to the mat. If your head is very far from the mat, try walking your legs out a bit wider, carefully. Remember to keep your fingers wide, pressing to the mat with your palms and feet. Stay in for 10 breaths. To release this pose place hands on your hips, and with an inhale lift your elbows towards the ceiling, draw your belly in and come up with a straight neck and back.

Benefits of this asana are that it creates a better posture, improves digestion, helps with lower backache, stretches the lower body and it calms stress and anxiety. This exercise for strength & flexibility is so beneficial.

Wide-Legged Forward Bend - Prasarita Padottanasana             Exercises for Strength & Flexibility

Supported Shoulderstand Pose – Salamba Sarvangasana

 From Wide-legged forward bend we move into our last pose which is a Supported Shoulderstand Pose. Now this is considered to be the queen of the poses. It soothes the nervous system, increases strength and flexibility, relieves the flu, helps with sleep and strengthens the immune system. Coming into a seated position, taking a grip from behind your thighs, lowering yourself gently to the floor. Walk your heels close to your sitting bones, place your arms beside your body and reach your heels with your fingertips. Start rolling your shoulders gently underneath you, lifting the heart center up a little. Make sure heels, knees, and hips are on the same line. Before we go into the asana, remember to never move your head from side to side when in a shoulderstand. And now with an inhale, lifting your legs up, exhale, lift legs over head, toes touching the floor, placing hands on the back, as close to your shoulders as it is possible for you today. Make sure your elbows are not wide open, walk them in towards each other and take chin away from the chest. Inhale, raise your legs up, over your head supporting your back with your arms. If possible walk hands even closer to shoulder, but remembering to keep your elbows still close to each other. Hold the Supported Shoulderstand for 5-15 breaths. When coming out, exhale, bend knees and let yourself slowly to the ground. Stay lying on your back for a few breaths, relaxing, closing your eyes and seeing how this practice affects your body. Give yourself thanks for challenging your mind and body today.

Supported Shoulderstand Pose - Salamba Sarvangasana

Featured Video: 7 Challenge Yoga Pose Exercise For Flexibility & Strength

About

Sara

I then realized how big of a shift my life had taken to a better direction since starting yoga. I felt passionate about sharing it with others and Read More..

Ready to try and exercise for flexibility and strength? Click here to access the full yoga courses and explore more transformative flows tailored to energize your body and mind.

Warm Up Exercises Pre-Workout: Use Yoga to Activate Muscles and Prevent Injury

I personally love deep backbends and explosive workouts. Both of these two require a proper warm up before getting started. A painful lesson I learned after straining muscles leaving my back injured for several days. Warming up before a workout is like meditating in the morning.

Start Strong with These Yoga Warm Up Exercises Pre-Workout

If you’re diving into deep backbends or explosive workouts, integrating warm up exercises pre-workout is essential. I learned this the hard way after straining muscles and injuring my back for several days. Just like starting your day with meditation brings clarity and calm, warming up your body primes it for action and minimizes injury risk. These yoga-based warm up exercises pre-workout will boost your awareness, improve performance, and keep you injury-free.

Why Yoga Warm Ups Are Essential Before Your Workout

Warming up your muscles before you exercise is more than a suggestion—it’s a must. The right warm up exercises pre-workout help you transition safely from a state of rest to high-intensity movement. They activate your muscles, lubricate your joints, and improve circulation. If you skip this step, you increase your chances of strain and fatigue, which can derail your progress and motivation.

Yoga Warm Up Exercises Pre-Workout Workout Infographic

yoga warm up exercises before workout infographic_SL103-1               warm up exercises pre-workout

(How To Do Yoga Warm Up Exercises Before Workout)

Shoulder & Torso Rotations in Easy Pose – Sukhasana

Inhale lift your arms parallel to the floor and exhale bend your arms from your elbows so that your fingertips touch your shoulders. With an inhale lift shoulders up and rotate back, exhale and rotate down. Do five of these rotations, moving your body with your breath and being mindful on how your shoulders feel today. If you feel any sort of pain that you know does not come from your muscles then don’t force it. Ever. After completing five rounds, switch direction. Again after finishing these five start rotating your upper body with an exhale from side to side, still keeping your fingertips gently on your shoulders.

Do five rotations on each side, always exhaling when rotating and inhaling when coming into center. Exhale release arms and come onto your all fours.

Shoulder and Torso Rotations

Dolphin Pose- Ardha Pincha Mayurasana 

We start with a Downward Facing Dog, tucking your toes under and exhale, push yourself into a downward dog, with your fingers spread wide apart, if you can, placing your ankles to the ground. Now moving into a Dolphin Pose, exhale, bring your forearms one by one on the ground. Push your hips up to the sky. Making sure your fingers stay wide and your arms don’t spread wide apart.

Dolphin Pose - Ardha Pincha Mayurasana

Warrior 1 Pose – Virabhadrasana 1 

After repeating come back to a Downward Facing Dog, inhale, lift your right leg up and exhale, bring it in between your arms. Coming into a Warrior 1. Turn your left leg into a 45 degree angle, make sure your right knee is on top of your right ankle and square your hips with front side of the mat. Lift your arms up and follow the arms with your gaze.

Stay here for five breaths and from Warrior 1 we will move to warrior 2.

Warrior 1 Pose - Virabhadrasana

Warrior 2 Pose with Cactus Arms Variation – Virabhadrasana 2

Open up your hips to the side and bring your arms parallel to the floor. Tuck your pelvis, lift chest, press back heel and outside of the back foot into the floor. Now we will do Cactus Arms, so bend your arms from elbows and spread all your fingers wide. Stay here for five breaths and then exhale, bringing your arms to the floor and moving into Downward Facing Dog. Repeat on the left side.

Warrior 2 with Cactus Hands Variation - Virabhadrasana           warm up exercises pre-workout

Sphinx Pose – Salamba Bhujangasana

Lowering yourself from Downward Facing Dog to the ground, placing your knees on the floor and moving into a Sphinx. Place your elbows underneath your shoulders and lift your head and upper body slightly up. Engage your lower back and feel that slight bend in there. Stay here for five breaths and release to the ground.

Sphinx Pose - Salamba Bhujangasana2            warm up exercises pre-workout

Featured Video: Six Pre Workout Stretches For Beginners

Should I Warm up Before Yoga?

There is no right answer to this. It all depends on your body, what type of yoga are you about to do, and the environment. Yoga is all about consciousness and being aware. If you know that your body is very stiff and you are about to enter a hardcore Ashtanga or Power Yoga class, you might want to consider doing some warming up before entering. Even though these classes do usually include warming up as sun salutation etc – only you know if this is enough for your body.

3 Standing Yoga Warm Up Poses

When you are warming up the body you want to move consciously and slowly. Spend time with those more delicate areas of the body, such as the neck, shoulders and spine. These are the muscles, that when even slightly twinged, can have you bed bound and immobile.  

Neck Rolls

Standing in a Mountain Pose, move your neck with the breath from side to side. Starting from the center, exhale and roll to the left. Inhale whilst being up and exhale roll to the right. Once you have done five of these half circles you can move into the full range – but be careful when you roll your head back.

Standing Yoga Seal Pose – Dwikonasana

Starting from a Mountain Pose, step your feet hip distance apart. Tuck your pelvis, straighten your spine and roll your shoulders back. Inhale lift arms parallel to the floor and interlace your fingers behind your back. Exhale start folding forward from your hips, bringing your arms above your head for a great stretch. Stay for five breaths.

Upward Salute Pose Variation – Urdhva Hastasana

Start in a Mountain Pose, feet together and grounded. Spread your toes to grab the mat and activate your legs by pulling kneecaps up. Tailbone tucked in, shoulders rolled back and spine straight. Inhale, lift your arms up. Interlace your fingers. Release index fingers, and feel as if someone is pulling you up from your head. Exhale, tilt your upper body to the right side from you hips. Keeping hips straight and deepening the stretch with every exhale. Stay for five breaths. Remember to keep pelvis tucked in, feet strong on the ground, chest open, and shoulders away from the ears. Inhale, raise back up and exhale. Repeat the same to the left side.

Yoga Warm Up for Weightlifting

Yoga and warming up the body is going to compliment those more intense physical workouts, including weight lifting. If you have the time, jump into five rounds of the Sun Salutations A & B and then continue with these following three poses:

Chair Pose – Utkatasana

Inhale, lift your arms over your head, so that your palms are facing each other. Bend your knees. Exhale, relax shoulders and a tuck your tailbone. If possible, deepen the pose by lowering your hips, as if you would sit on a chair. Gaze to your fingers and stay for five to ten breaths.

Goddess Pose – Utkata Konasana

Inhale step your right foot back, facing the longer side of your mat. Turn both toes into a 45 degree angle. Exhale, bend knees, coming into a goddess squat. You want to have your knees above your ankles and thighs parallel to the ground. Next creating cactus hands: Lift arms parallel to the floor, bend from elbows into 90 degrees and spread your fingers wide. Draw shoulder blades back, engage abs and tuck your tailbone. Stay for five breaths. Exhale, straighten legs and lower arms, returning to Mountain Pose.

Supported Shoulderstand Pose – Salamba Sarvangasana

Coming into a seated position, taking a grip from behind your thighs, lowering yourself gently to the floor. Walk your heels close to your sitting bones. Place your arms beside your body and reach your heels with your fingertips. Start rolling your shoulders gently underneath you, lifting the heart center up a little. Make sure heels, knees, and hips are on the same line.

Before we go into the asana, remember to never move your head from side to side when in a shoulderstand. And now with an inhale, lifting your legs up. Exhale, lift legs over head, toes touching the floor. Placing hands on the back, as close to your shoulders as it is possible for you today. Make sure your elbows are not wide open. Walk them in towards each other and take chin away from chest. Inhale, raise your legs up, over your head supporting your back with your arms. If possible walk hands even closer to shoulder. Remember to keep your elbows still close to each other. Hold Shoulder Stand for 5-15 breaths. When coming out, exhale, bend knees and let yourself slowly to the ground.

“If you spend too much time warming up, you’ll miss the race. If you don’t warm up at all, you may not finish the race.”

Conclusion: Yoga Warm Up Exercises Pre-Workout

Warming up before exercising is essential to get the most out of your workout in a safe way. Warming up properly prevents injury and prepares the body for more demanding physical activities. Yoga warm up exercises before workout is an awesome short sequence that targets and challenges the biggest muscle groups in your body. It is for all levels so you don’t have to worry about not being able to complete it! After flowing through these exercises you will be feeling prepared and properly warmed up for your workout!

About

Sara

I then realized how big of a shift my life had taken to a better direction since starting yoga. I felt passionate about sharing it with others and Read More..

Ready to take your healing further? Click here to access yoga courses and start your journey toward lasting wellness today.