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Shape Up With Yoga
Shape Up With Yoga
WOMENS FITNESS
Shape Up with
Sun Salutation
The following dynamic sequence is called a
sun salutation series. It will stretch,
strengthen and energise the entire body. Try
to focus on coordinating your breath with
the movement, keeping the sequence fluid
and continuously moving. The sun salutation
is also a fantastic wake up in the morning, or
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WOMENS FITNESS
exhale to bend your elbows and lower
your chest between your hands. Stop
when your upper body is just above the
floor with your elbows in tight by your
sides. Tuck your toes under and lift your
knees to straighten your legs, lowering
your body until you are parallel to the floor.
Exhale, rest for a couple of breaths before
returning to all fours and repeating.
(Beginners can keep knees on the floor
until they develop the strength to practice
the full posture)
Lunge
Mountain Pose
good for focus and postural
awareness
Stand straight with feet together or hipwidth apart. Your weight should be in the
centre of your feet with toes resting lightly
on the floor. Shoulders should be open and
wide, with arms relaxed but extended
toward the floor. Lift the chest and
elongate the abdomen. Eyes gaze softly
forward and breath is long and focused.
Cobra
great for countering rounded
shoulders and strengthening the
upper back and shoulders
Lie on the floor with face down and legs
together. Place your hands under your
shoulders with your fingers in line with
collar bones and spread wide. Keep your
elbows tight against your sides. Inhale and
lift upwards from the sternum and chest,
keeping the neck long. Exhale to slowly
come back down.
Plank
Forward bend
stretches the entire spine and
hamstrings, a calming inversion
From mountain pose inhale and stretch
arms up overhead. Exhale and fold forward
from the hips, reaching arms forward as
you fold down. Try to keep your back as
straight as is comfortable and bend your
knees to accommodate hamstring
length/tightness. Allow your upper body to
rest on your thighs and keep the back
long. Breathe steady. As you progress, lift
you sitting bones upwards - lengthening
through the back of the legs exhaling to
take the stretch deeper.
(Beginners or anyone with high blood
pressure can do a half-forward bend
resting the hands on the back of a chair,
keeping their back parallel to the floor.)
Crocodile
a challenging static posture which
strengthens the arms, back and
abdomen
Start on all fours with knees under your
hips and your hands slightly in front of
your shoulders. Inhale to prepare, and
Downward dog
a calming inversion which
strengthens the arms, shoulders
and back whilst lengthening the
entire back of the body
From all fours with knees hip-width
apart and palms pressed into the floor,
exhale and lift your hips up and back.
Keep knees bent to begin with, and
then gently straighten the legs,
extending the heels towards the floor.
Keep lifting the hips high and slide the
shoulder blades down the spine, away
from your ears. Breathe evenly as you
hold the posture, and exhale to bend
knees and return to the floor. Rest in
childs pose afterwards.
(Beginners or those with high blood
pressure can rest their hands on a chair,
in a half downward dog. If you have a
back problem, keep knees bent
throughout.)
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WOMENS FITNESS
Warrior 11
opens hips, strengthens back,
thighs and hips, stretches
adductors. Great for stamina
From mountain pose, step the feet wide
apart. Turn the right foot forwards and the
left foot slightly forwards. Inhale and lift
arms to shoulder height, exhale and bend
the right knee until the knee is above the
ankle. Lift the chest and reach to make
the arms long. Turn the head to gaze
along the right arm and continue to
breathe steadily Keep the left leg strong
and straight. Inhale as you straighten the
right knee and turn feet back to parallel.
Repeat on the left leg.
Dolphin
strengthens the shoulder girdle, upper
back, arms, core and abs
On all fours, lower down onto elbows.
Ensure elbows are shoulder-width apart by
wrapping your fingers around each
opposite elbow, and then clasping your
Warrior 1
strengthens entire lower body,
builds stamina and balance
From lunge position, inhale and engage
abs as you rise into standing lunge. Lift the
arms up alongside the ears. Squeeze your
bottom and keep your abs tight as you
hold and breathe steady. Keep the legs
active tensing the thighs and drawing up
through the pelvic floor.
Or from mountain pose, step one foot
forward, stretch the arms out at shoulder
height, and bend your front leg until the
knee is above and in line with the ankle as
you lift your arms up beside your ears.
Hold steady and keep your legs strong and
grounded, pressing the back heel into the
floor and squeezing the buttocks.
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Boat
strengthens abs, back and hip
flexors
Sit up tall, with legs out straight. Place
your hands behind you on the floor and lift
your chest. Exhale to bend your knees and
lift your feet from the floor. Inhale to
balance, and exhale to bring your arms
forward parallel to the floor. Hold here
and balance keeping your navel drawn
into your spine. To advance - straighten
the legs and hold.
WOMENS FITNESS
Cat series
great for spine mobility,
strengthens core and
arms
On all fours like a cat place
your hands under your
shoulders with your palms
pressed into the floor and
shoulders away from your
ears. Engage navel to spine
and straighten one leg behind
you, inhale to bend elbows
and lower chest between your
hands. Keep your elbows in
tight to work triceps. Repeat 8
to 10 times and the come back
to all fours. Exhale to extend
your other leg, and take your
hands slightly wider, with
fingertips pointing slightly
inwards. This time lower chest
between hands with elbows
wide, to work the chest.
Repeat 8 to 10 times.
Child Pose
stretches the spine, relaxes the body. Perfect counter
posture to any backbends or as a rest between postures
Sit your bottom on your heels, and rest your forehead on the floor. Let
your shoulders, neck and arms completely relax and breathe deeply.
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