Yoga

Basic Postures

Standing

Mountain Pose

Stand tall. Neutral spine. Arms down, palms facing forward. Retract shoulders.

Standing Bend

Engage core. Reach arms overhead and connect palms. Bend back, left or right. Targets core, spine, shoulders

Folds

Standing Forward Fold

Engage core. Move hands towards groud. Bend knees slightly. Keep spine long and flat. Targets hamstrings, core, mid back, upper back

Wide Legged Forward Fold

Variation of standing forward fold with legs split apart. Keep back flat. Engage hip flexors, thighs and core. Targets inner thighs, hamstrings, ankles

Half Lift

Bring spine parallel to floor. Hands on knees. Targets hamstrings, core, spine

Squats

Chair

Engage hips and core. Start in mountain pose, arms stretched overhead, palms facing inwards. Squat and hold. Arms remain overhead. Targets glutes, thighs, ankles

Deep Squat

Start in mountain pose, arms stretched forward, palms facing upwards. Squat and hold. Arms remain forward. Targets hips, core, thighs, ankles

Horse Stance

Legs two shoulders wide, toes pointing out. Press elbows back parallel to ground. Hands pointing up, palms facing forward. Targets hips, core, groin, glutes

Lunges

High Lunge

Step one leg back. Back foot on ball. Front leg shin is perpendicular to floor. Find length in upper body. Targets hips, core, spine, lower body

Warrior 1

Step one leg back. Back foot floored pointing out 45 degrees. Front leg shin is perpendicular to floor. Find length in upper body. Targets groin, hips, ankles

Humble Warrior

Step one leg back. Back foot floored pointing out 45 degrees. Front leg shin is perpendicular to floor. Interlace hands behind back. Bring chest toward front thigh. Targets shoulders, back, hips

Pyramid

From Warrior 1, hinge at hips and bring fingertips to ground. Straighten front leg. Keep back flat. Look forward. Targets hamstrings, hips, core

Revolved Pyramid

From pyramid, bring arm over front leg to ceiling. Palm pointing out Targets spine, core, hips

Warrior 2

Step one leg back. Back foot floored pointing out 90 degrees. Front leg shin is perpendicular to floor. Extend arms, front leg arm forward, back leg arm backward. Targets hips, core, ankles

Reverse Warrior

From Warrior 2 bend back. Front leg arm points to ceiling, palm facing back. Back leg arm stretches towards back knee. Targets shoulders, upper back, hips

Side Angle

From Warrior 2 forward. Front leg arm pointing to floor. Back leg arm pointing to ceiling. Face looking up. Targets core, spine, hips, shoulders

Triangle

From side angle straighten front leg. Targets hips, inner thighs, core, ankles

Kneeling

Cat-Cow

On all fours. Inhale, arch spine, pull tailbone up, pull chest forward, keep head up. Exhale, lift core up, upper back to the ceiling, head down. Targets spine, back, chest

Lunges

Low Lunge

On all fours, step one foot up, the other foot back. Front leg between arms. Find length in spine, raise arms towards ceiling. Targets hips, core

Runner's Lunge

From low lunge, lift back knee and stand on ball of feet. Find one line with rear leg and back. Fingertips touch the floor. Targets hips, core, glutes, thighs

Runner's Lunge Twist

From runner's lunge, move front leg arm to ceiling. Head looking towards ceiling. Targets spine, core, hips

Half Split

From low lunge push through front knee. Chest moves forward, back stays flat. Targets hamstrings, calves

Lizard

From plank, step one leg forward to the outside of arms. Keep back flat and in one line with back leg. Fingers touch the floor. Targets hip flexors, inner thighs

Balance

Aeroplane

Stand on one leg, the other leg and torso are parallel to the floor. Arms are pointing back at an angle. Targets hamstrings, hips, glutes, core

Warrior 3

Step back one leg half a step, interlace fingers and point to ceiling. Lean forward, lift back leg. Leg and back aligned horizontally to floor. Targets core, hamstrings, hips, shoulders, back

Tree

From mountain pose, tuck in one leg, let it rest on opposite thigh pointing 90 degrees out. Raise arms 45 degrees over shoulders. Targets hips, core

Standing Bow

Lift on foot behing and grab. Other arm towards ceiling. Lean forward with flat back, bring back thigh parallel and shin perpendicular to the ground. Targets hips, spine, shoulders

Standing Finger-To-Toe

From mountain pose, lift one leg up and grab one toe. Push leg forward, parallel to the floor. Keep length in spine. Targets hamstrings, calves, hips, core

Seated

Boat

Sit on the floor. Back straight slight leaning back, knees bent. Hold your knees. Reach out with arms at 25degrees to the floor, palms facing up. Straighten legs and lift knees towards ceiling. Keep back straight and chest open. Targets core, hips, spine

Butterfly

Sit on the floor. Soles of the feet together. Keep back straight, shoulder blades together. Push knees down using abductors and glutes. Targets groin, core

Seated Twist

Sit on the floor. Legs straight, back upright. Cross on left leg over and plant at thigh level. Put left hand on floor and rotate upper body to the left. Keep back straight and core engaged. Right arm can push slightly on the left lower thigh (but rotation coming from the core) Targets glutes, spine, core

Front-lying

Childs Pose

Get on all fours. Knees outside hip, feet touching. Shift hips back. Keep the spine long, arms extend the spine. Targets hips, back, spine, shoulders

Plank

Get on all fours. Tuck toes in, push knees up. Squeeze thighs and engage core. Form straight line from heels to shoulders (sort of). Targets shoulders, arms, core, chest

Downward-facing Dog

Start in plank. Shift hips up, squeeze in shoulders, push heels to the ground. Keep flat back. Try to form pyramid. Targets hamstrings, hips, core, shoulders, upper back, calves

Upward-facing Dog

Start in plank. Lower body to hover above ground. Lift chest up and stretch head towards ceiling. Press tops of the feet into the ground. Targets core, back, shoulders, hips

Side Plank

Start in plank. Shift weight to one side, stack feet, arm reaches towards ceiling. Don't let your hips collapse. Targets shoulders, upper back, chest, arms, core, hips, thighs

Low Plank

Start in plank. Lower body to hover above floor. Squeeze elbows in, keep shoulder blades together. Targets chest, shoulders, upper back, arms, core

Cobra

Targets core, spine, hips, back

Sphinx

Targets core, spine, mid back, upper back

Dolphin

Targets shoulders, upper back, core, hamstrings

Full Locust

Targets core, spine, back, hips

Thread The Needle

Targets upper back, shoulders, rotator cuff

Pigeon

Targets glutes, hips, lower back

Frog

Targets groin, inner thighs

Back-lying

Reclined Twist

Targets back, spine

Reclined Figure Four

Targets glutes, hips

Bridge

Target hips, core, spine

Hamstring Strap Stretch

Targets hamstrings, lower back, calves

Inner Thigh Strap Stretch

Targets groin, nner thighs, lower back

Outer Thigh Strap Stretch

Targets outer thighs, hamstrings, lower back

Happy Baby

Targets groin, lower back, hamstrings, inner thighs

Corpse

Targets total body

Series and Transitions

Standing

Half Sun Salutation

Series of mountain pose, standing back bend, standing forward fold, half lift, standing forward fold, chair and standings back bend.