Yoga -- Warm Up Moves

Do some warm-up exercises before starting your yoga practice. This will warm and loosen your muscles, ensuring that you do not experience sudden injury or strain. This should only take a few minutes.

For the Shoulders

Stand upright with your feet slightly apart and the shoulders relaxed. With your hands by your side, raise the shoulders as high as they can go and then let them fall. Repeat a few times. Then wheel you arms around in a slow large circle. This should help loosen your shoulders.

Squatting

This warm-up move is for your hips and thighs. Stand with your feet just slightly apart. Place your hands on your hips and slowly get into a squatting position. Slowly return to the standing position. Repeat several times.

Shake and Twist

Now, it is time to loosen up a bit. Relax by letting your whole body go floppy. Shake your limbs. Continue for as long as you feel comfortable. When you are done, swing your arms loosely forward and backward around the body. Keep your feet and thighs apart. Repeat a few times.

Stretch

While standing, raise your arms straight out in front of you at chest level. Take a deep breath and exhale slowly. It is now time to play cat. This move strengthens the spine, improves posture and revitalizes the body.

Kneel on all fours. Keep your hands and knees apart. As you inhale, bring your head forward and slightly hollow your back. When you breathe out, arch the back upwards, and let your head drop down until you are looking at your abdomen. Repeat the sequence five to 10 times.

Now you are ready to start!

Also Read:

:: Yoga Effectiveness
:: Yoga Practice

:: Sun Salutation
:: Sun Salutation

:: Yoga Warm Up
:: Yoga