A 12-Step All-Around Yoga Exercise

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Tuesday, October 21st, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

One of the all-around yoga exercises is the 12-step salute to the sun. As you do it once or twice in the morning it will help loosen up any stiffness in your body and rejuvenate it. Then to help you relax at night you can do several multiple repetitions, in fact, some people who suffer with insomnia find by completing six - twelve rounds often helps them to fall asleep better.

1. Stand with your feet slightly apart, palms together, thumbs against your chest.

2. Breath in slowly and deeply as you raise your hands over your head, then bend back as far as you can and tighten the muscles in your gluteus maximus.

You should hold this position for three seconds before exhaling.

3. After three seconds you can slowly exhale while bending forward, keeping your knees straight and touch the floor outside of your feet.

You may not be able to touch the floor but you should get as close as you can to it and then bend your head inwards, towards your knees.

4. Now slowly inhale, bend your knees and try again to touch the floor just outside where your feet are.

Slide your right foot back as far as you can go, with the right knee an inch or so off the floor, (a lunge position). Now look up as high as possible, arching your back and hold for a few seconds before exhaling.

5. Before exhaling again, slide your left foot back until it is beside the right one, and with your weight supported on your palms and toes, straighten both legs so that your body forms a flat plane.

All the time while doing this yoga exercises you need to make sure your stomach is pulled in.

6. Begin to slowly exhale while bending both knees to the floor, keep your hips in the air and lower your chest towards the floor.

7. Now, inhale slowly and look up, bending your head back then raising it, followed by bringing up your chest, then lowering it.

Your lower body - from the navel down - should be on the floor, and your elbows should be slightly bent. Hold this position for three to five seconds.

8. Exhale slowly and raise your hips until your feet and palms are flat on the floor and your arms and legs are straight in an inverted V position.

9. Bring your foot forward as you slowly inhale the same way you did in the forth position.

The right foot will need to be flat on the floor between your fingertips. The left leg should be almost straight behind you, with its knee slightly off the floor. Again, you will raise your head by looking upward and arch your back in this position.

10. Bring your left foot forward next to your right foot, as you slowly begin to exhale.

As you try to keep your fingertips on the floor; straighten your legs and touch your head to your knees in the same manner you did in the third position.

11. Slowly begin to inhale deeply as you raise your arms up and stretch back as you did in the second position.

Remember in both position two and eleven you need to tighten your buttocks and hold for three seconds.

12. Slowly exhale, lowering your arms to your sides and then relax.

Feel free to repeat these yoga positions as often as you like, as they will better help to improve your health, by relieving stress and helping you to better relax your body.

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