Yoga is my workout of choice. The sweat, post-yoga glow, and the subtle soreness that a Vinyasa class provides is high on my list of weekly non-negotiables. Other top priorities are teaching yoga and hosting a podcast, The Alchemized Life, as well as adding Vital Proteins® Original Collagen Peptides to my diet (of course). Besides the always-appreciated opportunity to get my zen on, a consistent yoga practice supports mobility of joints and muscles, as well as increased flexibility.
Similar to yoga, collagen helps strengthen the tendons, ligaments and bones in our bodies.** By pairing a daily collagen serving with your yoga practice, you're giving the body that extra TLC it needs to recover faster, remain toned, and build elasticity.**
Whether you're new to yoga or a long-time yogi, flow through this 5-move yoga workout to help build strength and flexibility.
Tiger Pose
How to do it: Start in a high plank and engage the core. Pull the knee in toward the nose and round through the spine. After holding for three breaths, lightly step the foot to the top of your mat.
Tiger Pose is great for building abdominal strength and toning the shoulders.
High Crescent Lunge
How to do it: Stack the knee above the ankle and lift the back heel above the ball of the foot. Inhale the palms overhead and keep a deep bend in the front knee. Square the hips by pulling the front hip toward the back of the mat and relax into the shoulders.
This pose builds leg strength by targeting the bones, muscles, and ligaments in the lower body.
Crescent Lunge with Arms Extended Overhead
How to do it: Stay in high crescent lunge and firm through the core as you reach the fingertips forward. The torso will hover a few inches above the front thigh. Stay here and breathe for three slow inhales and exhales.
Building off of the first two poses, challenge yourself with a lower body and abdominal hold.
Chaturanga
How to do it: From your crescent lunge, plant the palms to frame the front foot and step back to a high plank. Press the ground away from you as you shift forward an inch, then lower halfway keeping the elbows into the ribcage. Option to drop the knees for more support.
Chaturanga is the ultimate pose for building strength while toning the upper body.
Cobra Pose
How to do it: Bring the tops of the feet onto the mat and lower the legs. Straighten through the arms as you open the chest towards the top of the mat. Shoulders will relax away from the ears and gaze can focus in front of you or towards the sky.
This pose works through the connective tissue in the shoulders and around the clavicles.
