Sit comfortably with your legs crossed and your back straight. If it doesn’t feel okay to cross your legs, try sitting on your heels instead. Relax your hands on your thighs. Close your eyes and take a big inhale through your nose and then a long exhale through your mouth. Set a nice, deep pace of breathing you can stay with for a while. When you are ready, open your eyes.
Stack your knees on top of each other (left on top of right) and let your feet rest out to your sides. If this doesn’t feel good on your knees, don’t push or force your body into the shape, just stay in easy seated for a few more breaths. If you are comfortable with your knees stacked, take a few breaths here. You can either stay upright or rest your torso forward.
COURTESY OF TARA STILES
Relax your right hand on the ground on your right side. Soften your right elbow, arc your left arm up, and bend over your right side. Take a few big deep breaths here. When you are ready, roll back up to center and do the same on the other side.
Walk your hands out in front of you until you feel a nice opening. It might be a few steps today and perhaps a few more tomorrow. Don’t worry about how far you can bend. Just go with how you feel. Allow your body to shift and drift along with your breath.
Press your fingertips behind you on the ground. Take a big inhale as you press down through your fingertips to lift your body up. As you exhale, gently lower your hips back to the ground and relax.
Shift your hips to one side and roll onto all fours. Take a big inhale as you drop your belly down toward the ground and look up (cow). As you exhale, round your back and look toward your stomach (cat). Allow your body to move how you feel.
Tuck your toes and take a big deep inhale to lift your hips up and back to down dog. Relax your head, neck, and shoulders. Allow your body to shift side to side or forward and back to open up. Hang here for five long, deep breaths.
