This power yoga routine is excellent for a total body warm up before you begin your exercise program and, in fact, is a very good workout in itself. It stretches your muscles and works your breathing, as well as strengthens your arms, back, chest and legs.

It is important to breathe fully and to do each part of the exercise slowly. Do not hurry through this and concentrate on your breathing throughout.

You start in a standing position with your arms hanging at your side. Slowly breathe in deeply while you look to the ceiling and raise your arms overhead. Try to touch the sky.

Slowly bend forward, breathing out, and touch your hands to the floor. Keep your legs as straight as possible but it is important that you stretch down as much as possible. In the beginning, you will probably have to bend your legs. Your head is close to your body and you want to look between your legs. If you are limber, place your palms flat on the floor.

Breathe in and, holding the same position, lift your head and look forward.

Breathe out and walk your feet backward as you get into a pushup position. When you become efficient at this routine, you can jump back into position if you like.

Breathing in, lower your belly close to the floor, at the same time shift your feet so the top of your feet are flat on the floor and stretch your upper body upward. You stretch your neck muscles as well by looking up at the ceiling.

Breathe out and move your body so that the bottom of your feet are now flat on the floor and your butt is as high in the air as possible. Look between your legs. You are in an inverted V position.

Breathe in and walk your feet forward until you are back into the position where you are touching the floor with your head close to your body and you are looking forward.

Breathe out and lower your head so you are now looking between your legs again.

Breathe in and slowly stretch up, standing and reaching for the sky, looking at the ceiling.

Now breathe out and return to your starting position, hands at your side. You have just completed one set.

Your goal is to work up to five sets eventually.

Remember to concentrate on your breathing. When you breathe in, do it slowly and take in as much breath as possible. When you breathe out, exhale all your breath and try to touch your back with your belly button.

Do these before exercising or do them first thing in the morning to get your body ready to face the day.

About the Author:

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Keith Nickel Langevin is the owner of the informative YOGA website http://www.FomaYoga.com
Foma Publishing, LLC – 8350 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 200, Beverly Hills, CA 90211

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Yoga is a 6000-year-old form of exercise which not only disciplines the body but conditions
the mind as well.

While the various “asanas” or exercises are the basic building blocks of the practice of yoga, breath is the very essence of it. Some go so far as to say, “If you can breathe, you can do yoga.” One of the main reasons for this is that one of the main goals of yoga is to teach you to still and quiet your mind through the use of your breath.

By practicing yoga on a regular basis, you get to know your breath intimately. Not only will you learn about proper breathing, which will soothe and relax you, but you will learn to bring your postures to life through the use of your breath.

As human beings, our minds tend to wander into thoughts of the past and the future. However, our bodies exist only in the present. By practicing yoga, you will learn through your breath how to draw your mind back to your body and abandon all of your worries.

One of the refreshing aspects about yoga is that, even if only for a minute, you are able to focus and concentrate on the present, you will be letting go of the cares and concerns that can bring tension and disease to your body.

By practicing yoga, you will learn conscious breathing during yoga poses which will keep your mind alert and ever aware of your practice. You will learn how to draw your mind to the present moment – allowing you to leave off all other thoughts.

While there are a number of breathing exercises associated with yoga which will teach you how to release tension and balance your mind, as a start, try the following exercise.

1. Lie or sit comfortably and become aware of your normal state of breathing.

2. Continue by being aware of your breath but make your inhalations and your exhalations 4 counts each for several rounds. Try to breathe through your nose if possible to enhance the relaxation benefits.

3. Now, increase your inhalation and exhalations to 5 counts each.

4. Next, increase your inhalations and exhalations to 6 counts each. This time try to become aware of your body making sure you are not tensed. If you notice tension anywhere relax that area.

5. Continue increasing your inhalations and exhalations all the way up to 9 counts. If you feel that this is causing you any stress, drop the count back down to a number that is comfortable for you.

6. Keep bringing your mind back to your body to check to see if there is any tension anywhere. If there is, try to relax that part of your body. Another trick is to “breath in” to your problem areas and “drive out” the tension through your exhale using visualization.

7. Whatever your final number of breaths is, continue breathing with long breaths for several rounds, then drop the counting and breathe naturally for 10 rounds.

What you should discover from this exercise, as well as with many of yoga’s other breathing exercises, is the ability to relax your thoughts and to still your mind so that you are present in your body. In time, you will eventually gain mastery over your breath so that you will be able to call on your breath to still your mind in times of stress and tension.

About the Author:
Keith Nickel Langevin is the publisher of the informative YOGA website http://www.FomaYoga.com
Get you started on your YOGA journey with a FREE eCourse visit http://FomaYoga.com/yogabasics
For a collection of informative articles about YOGA visit http://FomaYoga.com/articles
Foma Publishing, LLC 8350 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 200, Beverly Hills, CA 90211

It is OK to re publish this article as long as the Author box above is included with the links.