BODYBUILDING NUTRITION BASICS

Yoga is a great way to keep your muscles limber and your heart in tip-top condition. There are plenty of styles and yoga exercises for beginners to get you started on the path to the physical wellness that yoga can offer you. While you will learn plenty as you go along; start off with either a Hatha or Vinyasa style of yoga which are a little more accommodating to beginners, due to their more laid-back meditative style of movement.

Relax

All yoga exercises for beginners, novices and advanced practitioners will revolve around relaxation of your body and mind. Before you advance beyond a corpse pose, you’ll have to become at one with yourself and 100% relaxed.

Beginning Yoga Exercise

Each session is begun with an easy pose and deep, relaxed meditation.

To do an easy pose: Sit down, with your back upright, buttocks firmly seated on a mat and legs crossed in front of you. Next, rest the backs of each wrist on your knees with your palms facing the sky, with your thumb and index finger lightly pressed together. The rest of this exercise involves deep breathing, in through your nose, out through your mouth — while completely clearing your mind of all thoughts.

Each yoga session begins and ends with this pose (or the accomplished pose which is very similar). Once you master this pose, other yoga exercises for beginners will be much easier to get the hang of, since the meditation aspect of all poses is the hardest part for most people when getting started.

Reap the Rewards

Yoga isn’t a “quick-fix” for all that ails you. While yoga exercises for beginners level and up will miraculously repair your entire body: A solid 30 minutes is needed per day, at the very least. 5 - 15 minutes is needed just to warm up, another 15 - 30 minutes for the various movements you’ll learn and master over time, then another 5 - 15 minutes at the end to put your body into a totally relaxed state yet again. The end result, however, will be a totally new you with a healthier body inside and out.

Learn more about yoga exercises for beginners and read lots of health tips at our fitness website.

James Lunden Fitness exercise, Fitness, training

People with mobility problems should look into treating their body to a low impact cardio routine. It’s always essential that you consult your doctor before under-taking a new exercise program, particularly if you have health issues. Provided your doctor or health care professional gives you the OK, start off slow with the exercises recommended below.

Alternating squat with front kick

This is a simple exercise that’s great for getting your heart pumping. 1. Stand with feet shoulder width apart and hold your hands out parallel with the floor (or arms crossed on your chest). 2. Start by squatting down and kicking one foot out in front to hip level. 3. Bring foot in and squat again, then kick with the opposite foot on the way up. This kind of low impact cardio movement can be done for a full 20 minutes, or mixed in with other movements.

Alternating Side Lunges

With your hands on your hips, or out in front of you parallel to the floor: 1. slowly lift one leg to the side while bending the knee of the leg planted on the ground. 2. Once you’ve bent the knee of the planted leg your going to lightly lunge the leg which is in the air to the side and plant it on the ground, while lifting the opposite leg. Continue alternating back and forth.

Use Your Imagination

Anything that doesn’t require bone-crunching impact to your feet and joints can be considered a low impact cardio exercise. Marching in place while lifting your knees as high as you can comfortably is a great low impact exercise.

You can also consider controlled front lunges; either standing in place or lunging across your lawn (grass is great for absorbing impact). Power walking with impact-absorbing shoes on is a great thing to do with friends or while walking your dog for exercise also.

Learn more about low impact cardio at our fitness tips website.

James Lunden Fitness exercise, Fitness, training