Boost Your Energy with Three Simple Yoga Poses

Know the feeling of waking up a little stiff in the body and foggy in the mind? Try these three yoga poses to energize your body and clear your head.  This is one of our go-to morning yoga sequences to greet the day, but you can do it anytime, anywhere (although it's hard to beat practicing on the beach!). In just a few minutes, you can get yourself centered and invigorated. 

Wide-Legged Forward Fold 

This is a great pose to stretch the backs of the legs, open the hips, and lengthen the spine.  It's also a gentle inversion, moving more blood to the brain, which brings about a physical and mental revitalization.

Do it: Step your feet about 3-4 feet apart.  Place hands at hips and inhale deeply to find length in your spine and broadness in your chest.  As you breathe out, fold forward at your hips, keeping your spine long.  Bend your knees if you are feeling tight.  Place hands on the floor, and if you want to go deeper, slowly bend your elbows, stacking them over your wrists. If your head doesn't reach the ground, simply let it hang and relax your neck

Reverse Warrior  

Reverse Warrior incorporates more strength, encouraging more focus while you stretch your legs, hips and side waist. Do it: Step your right foot about 3-4 feet back from your left foot.  Point your left toes forward and your right toes slightly to the right. Bend your left knee and open your arms to a Warrior 2 position.  Keeping your legs firmly planted, flip your left palm to face up, then reach that hand up and back. Let your right hand rest lightly on your right leg. Repeat on the other side!

Triangle  

Triangle pose is another great full-body opener.  You'll stretch your hips, groins, hamstrings, shoulders, chest, and spine! Do it: Step your right foot back as you did for Reverse Warrior.  This time, keep both legs straight, pressing evenly through both feet. Extend your arms to a Warrior 2 position then reach forward through your left fingertips, following with your torso.  Rest your left hand lightly on your left shin or press the back of your hand against your inner ankle.  Keep both sides of your waist long and revolve your chest up toward the sky.  If it's comfortable for your neck, look up to that top hand. Switch sides and repeat.

Namaste!