For those who suppose yoga is all about handstands and contorting your physique into near-impossible poses, you need to know that there are a number of other ways to observe yoga. Light yoga, for instance, is suitable for almost anybody, newbies and veterans alike.

“Light yoga affords a nurturing and compassionate method to the physique,” says Sarah Cummins, RYT 500, E-RYT 200, YACEP, yoga teacher and licensed private coach. “It’s typically taught in a method that each one folks can simply take part.”

What Is Light Yoga?

Light yoga is a gradual, tranquil observe through which you sometimes maintain poses for prolonged intervals of time.

“Light yoga might be taught in a wide range of methods, based mostly in your teacher’s yoga model or lineage and expertise,” Cummins says. “Light yoga could mix a gradual movement with longer-held restorative positions that always embrace an emphasis on the breath in addition to meditation practices.”

Whereas every class will fluctuate, right here’s what you’ll be able to anticipate in a mild yoga class in line with Cummins:

• Cues on how you can safely and adequately align your physique.
• Suggestions to make use of props equivalent to blocks, straps, blankets, and bolsters to assist with alignment and rest.
• Fewer transitions from sitting to standing or kneeling to mendacity down for a smoother, extra relaxed expertise.
• Numerous choices and modifications to “meet you the place you’re and go away area on your exploration of poses,” she says.

Varieties of light yoga

Some yoga studios provide “gradual movement” courses which might be a gentler type of vinyasa yoga. And restorative yoga and yin yoga are each thought of “light” yoga practices.

Whereas each restorative yoga and yin yoga are light on the physique, there are some variations between the 2 kinds:

Restorative yoga: Incorporates roughly 5 or 6 postures which might be meant to decelerate and restore the physique. Every pose is held for a pair minutes, utilizing a number of props for assist. The purpose is whole consolation so that you just launch all pressure out of your muscle groups.

Yin yoga: Holds fewer poses for longer intervals (three-to-five minutes), however “you’re penetrating to the deepest layers of connective tissue to carry elasticity, mobility, and vitality again to tight muscle groups. Most yin poses are accomplished solely on the ground and can almost certainly really feel more difficult than these in restorative yoga,” Cummins says.

Is Light Yoga Good For Inexperienced persons?

Light yoga is a superb entry level to yoga for newbies. “Light yoga permits college students to maneuver by means of postures slowly and mindfully and observe yoga in a secure and efficient method,” Cummins says.

However it’s not solely for newbies.

“It’s a rewarding observe for the younger and outdated, the versatile and rigid. It’s additionally nice for pregnant ladies and people recovering from damage,” she provides.

Light Yoga Sequence

Light yoga could embrace a mix of reclining, seated, and even standing or balancing poses. It’s easy to make any yoga observe gentler by including props, not going as “deep” right into a pose, or shifting extra slowly.

Together with extra intense flows, Yoga52 and Beachbody Yoga Studio on BODi each provide soothing practices that you are able to do at residence to wind down from an extended day at work, settle down after a exercise, or prepare for mattress.

For those who’re seeking to create your personal movement, listed below are some poses to strive.

1. Mountain pose (Tadasana)

• Begin standing along with your massive toes touching and your heels barely aside. Your arms ought to relaxation by your sides, palms going through ahead.
• Interact your thighs and lengthen your tailbone right down to create an extended backbone.
• Raise your chest and draw your shoulder blades again and down.
• Maintain your ears over your shoulders and your pelvis over your ankles.
• Take a number of deep breaths (take into account holding for one minute).

2. Standing ahead bend (Uttanasana)

• Begin in mountain pose along with your toes hip-distance aside (or barely wider). Place yoga blocks on the mat in entrance of your toes. Take a deep breath.
• Exhale, bend your knees barely, hinge at your hips, and relaxation your palms on the blocks.
• Look towards your legs and bend your knees as a lot as you need or want.
• Shift your weight ahead to align your hips over your heels.
• Keep right here for a minimum of three breaths.
• Take a breath and rise again as much as standing. Press down along with your toes and pull your low stomach in to assist your decrease again as you unfold.

3. Little one’s pose (Balasana)

• Begin in your mat on all fours. Place your palms immediately beneath your shoulders and your knees beneath your hips. Deliver your massive toes collectively.
• Sink your hips again towards your heels. Relaxation your stomach between your thighs and contact your brow to your mat.
• Lengthen your arms in entrance of you. Possibility to succeed in your arms behind you and cup your heels.
• Keep for just a few breaths/minutes.

4. Cat-cow stretch (Bitilasana and marjaryasana)

Inhale: Cow pose

• From baby’s pose, come again to all fours. Maintain your again flat, your neck lengthy, and your gaze towards the ground.
• As you inhale, carry your tailbone and chest towards the ceiling whereas dropping your stomach towards the mat.
• Draw your shoulders away out of your ears. Squeeze your shoulder blades, and carry your head according to your torso.
• Exhale into cat pose.

Exhale: Cat pose

• From cow pose, exhale, spherical your backbone, tuck your tailbone, and curl your chin towards your chest.
• Inhale into cow pose.
• Repeat this movement for as much as 10 breaths, or longer if desired.

5. Seated ahead fold (Paschimottanasana)

• Come to a seated place in your mat.
• Sit tall along with your legs prolonged in entrance of you. Flex your toes. Relaxation your palms at your sides on the bottom.
• Soften your knees (possibility to position a blanket beneath your knees).
• Draw your abs in and hinge at your hips to fold over your thighs. Stroll your palms down your legs towards your toes. Keep away from rounding your again or utilizing your arms to tug your self into the pose.
• Maintain for 5 or extra breaths. With every exhale, attempt to loosen up into the posture to get a deeper stretch. Come again up on an inhale.

6. Certain-angle pose (Baddha konasana)

• Sit in your mat along with your sit bones immediately beneath you (keep away from tucking your tailbone).
• Contact the soles of your toes collectively. Open your knees vast like a ebook (possibility to slip two blocks beneath your knees in case you have any knee pressure).
• Slide your heels as near your groin as comfy.
• Relaxation your thumbs on the balls of your toes. Wrap the remainder of your fingers across the tops of your toes.
• Sit up tall. Maintain your gaze ahead, and your chest open.
• If you wish to deepen the stretch, hinge ahead at your hips with out rounding your again.
• Maintain for a minimum of 5 breaths or one minute.

7. Blissful child pose (Ananda balasana)

• Lie down in your mat. Bend your knees and flatten your toes on the mat.
• Hug your knees to your chest. Deliver your knees to your chest and seize the outer edges of your toes.
• Pull your knees towards your armpits.
• Compress your tailbone to the mat (choice to rock side-to-side).
• Keep for just a few deep breaths.

8. Corpse pose (Savasana)

• Lie down in your mat.
• Let your arms relaxation barely away out of your torso, along with your palms going through up. Chill out your shoulders away out of your ears.
• Separate your legs till your heels attain the corners of your mat.
• Shut your eyes, and loosen up your whole physique as you gradual your respiration and relaxation for a minimum of 5 minutes.