5 SIMPLE YOGA EXERCISES TO DO AT HOME

Yoga can actually be quite intimidating if you are new to it, the terms and poses sounds SO complex, I mean we can't even pronounce them!? However, we think that most of us are aware that the benefits from practising yoga are endless - so let's try to make sense of some of it! Start your day off with these simple exercises at home and we can promise you that you will feel the difference in your mind and body right away.

BREATHE & RELAX

We live in a stressful world - start with a breathing exercise that will help you calm down and land on the mat. Sit down on the mat with your legs crossed in front of you. Place your hands together at your chest and close your eyes. Focus on your breathing - try to breathe in and out through your nose. Stay here for at least 5 circles of breathing and try to breathe as slowly as possible to really come down in pulse.

Benefits: Opens up your mind & helps you to focus inward.

SHOULDER TWIST

Place your fingers on your shoulders with your elbows pointing straight out at the sides and your under arms should be parallell with your shoulders. Controlled and slowly twist to your right without moving from your core and down, let your gaze follow the movement. Repeat on the other side. Breathe in and out synced with your exercise. Stay here for at least five breathing cycles.

Benefits: Opens up your upper back and shoulders.

UPWARD FACING DOG

Lie down on your stomach with your feet pointing straight back. Place your hands at your sides, in same level as your shoulders. Raise your upper body towards the ceiling and come up on straight arms, if it feels comfortable let your head tilt back. Focus on your breathing and stay here for 5 breathing circles.

Benefits: Opens up your chest.

CAT-COW POSE

Start on all-fours, be sure that your hands are placed directly under your shoulders and your knees under your hips. Inhale and drop your belly towards the floor, your gaze should be up towards the ceiling, this is cow pose. Exhale and move into cat pose, draw your belly inwards toward your spine and round your back towards the ceiling. Inhale as you move into cow pose and exhale in cat pose - continue with the flow 5-20 times.

Benefits: Cat-cow warms up the body, stretches your back and neck.

PIGEON POSE

You can start in downward facing dog, race your right leg straight up to one legged dog. Press your knee up towards your chest and very carefully fold your right foot towards your left hip. Use your hands to place the foot were it feels comfortable, keep your left leg straight back, open up your chest and stretch on straight arms. If it feels ok you can proceed and bend over to rest with your head on your hands. Take deep breaths.

Benefits: Great stretch for your seat and hips.