Yoga for Women

Becoming fit is no easy task. Yoga, which is thousands of years old, is gentle on your bones and improves your health in a myriad of ways.

Before beginning this practice warming up the body is necessary. Some ways to accomplish this are through neck rolls, flexing the back, twisting at the waist, and loosening the leg muscles and pelvic area. When you are finished warming up, you are ready to begin.

There are many poses in Yoga, a series of ten poses is to follow.

The Kneeling Sun Salutation

1) Sitting on your heels with relaxed shoulders and a straight back is called the Rock Pose. This pose helps your digestive system.

2) While kneeling, sweep your arms to the side extending them overhead.

3) Sit on your heels and lean forward until your palms and forehead touch the mat. This is called Child's Pose and is a resting position.

4) Cow's Pose finds you on all fours pulling your spine towards the floor.

5) Plant your feet and hands on the mat as you move your hips towards the ceiling. When you are in an inverted "v", you will be in the Downward Facing Dog pose.

6) Bring your hips down to the mat, get up on your toes and knees, straighten your arms, and lift your chest. This is the Upward Facing Dog.

7) Downward Facing Dog - see step 5.

8) Cow's Pose - see step 4.

9) Child's Pose - see step 3.

10) Rock Pose - see step 1.

Practicing Yoga increases energy, improves concentration, helps you sleep, releases tension, lowers blood pressure, and so much more.

You will benefit from the many poses that yoga has to offer. If you want to prevent digestive and bowel disorders the Bow is for you. There is also the Shoulder Stand which prevents varicose veins. The Archer pose will strengthen the nervous system. There are many more poses to choose from.

There are wall exercises, floor exercises, standing exercises, and sitting exercises. Any pose will be advantageous for your physical and emotional well-being.

Menopause

Fish Pose = This will open the hips. Sit between your heels, lean back resting on your elbows.

Chair = While standing, touch your feet while bending your knees. Bring your hands between your legs. Hold the pose for 1-2 minutes.

Breast Health

Diagonal Stretch - Sit in a chair and bring your arms to the side. Bring your left arm up approximately halfway and bring your right arm down the same amount. Alternate this motion with your arms for 1-3 minutes.

Reach For Health - Start in the Rock Pose with your elbows bent and your hands in fists. On an exhale, reach one hand forward and open the fists. Do these quickly alternating arms for 1-2 minutes.

Did you know jumping on a trampoline is fighting cancer? This action improves circulation of the lymphatic fluid.

Palm Press - Prevents sagging breasts! Tightly press your palms together working your breast, chest muscles, and upper arms.

Arm Press - With arms in front of you, bend at the elbows. Press the forearms and palms together.

Wall Press - Face the wall, hands inward, and elbows facing out. Do some push-ups against the wall.

There are poses for every stage of a woman's life. I encourage you to give Yoga a try.