Upper Body Yoga Flow

This is a pattern I use when my students are asking for some extra upper body work. I usually introduce the poses a few at a time, holding each pose for a few breaths; then eventually link all of the poses together in a series of movements:

• From a tabletop (all-fours) position inhale to a cow pose (arching the spine, turning the head and tailbone to the ceiling) with the toes tucked under.
• Exhale to cat pose (round the spine, tuck the head and tailbone under) with the toes pointing away from the body.
• Inhale to cow pose with toes tucked under.
• Exhale to downward-facing dog.
  (Here I would switch sides and go through the series a couple of times.)
• Inhale to plank position. (Hold for a few breaths.)
• Exhale lowering the body toward the floor. (Some call this a Chataranga, crocodile or yoga push-up; just keep the elbows in.)
• Inhale to a cobra stretch. (raising of the upper body)
• Exhale, tucking toes, to down-dog. (Optional: Raise the right leg toward the ceiling in a one-legged downward dog.)
  (Again, I would probably go through this series a few times on each side before moving on.)
• Inhale swing the right leg through resting it on its knee (right leg is bent in a kneeling position) and raise the left leg behind you in a "sunbird" position.
• Exhale and bow the upper body (bowing sunbird) toward the floor. Keep the elbows in.
• Inhale and press the body back up to sunbird. (repeat bowing and lifting desired number of times)
• After last bow remind students to tuck left toes under... Inhale and press the body back up to a one-legged downward facing dog.
  Optional: exhale shifting your weight forward and lowering the right leg as if you were going into plank, but DO NOT let the right leg touch the floor; inhale and press back up into one-legged downward dog. Repeat desired number of times.
• Exhale to plank position.
• Inhale lowering knees one-at-a-time to the floor beneath you.
• Exhale into extended child's position.
• Repeat on other side.

Enjoy!

< < Previous [Other] pattern - Next [Other] pattern > >

	Main page - Moves - Videos - Music - TBB - Wearables!
	Patterns: Disclaimer / Search / Stats / RSS / Add
	View patterns by month May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003 March 2003 February 2003 January 2003 December 2002 November 2002 October 2002 September 2002 August 2002 July 2002 June 2002 May 2002 April 2002 March 2002 February 2002 January 2002 December 2001 November 2001 October 2001 September 2001 August 2001 July 2001 June 2001 April 2001 March 2001 February 2001 January 2001 December 2000 November 2000 October 2000 September 2000 August 2000 July 2000 June 2000 May 2000 April 2000 March 2000 February 2000 January 2000 December 1999 November 1999 October 1999 September 1999 August 1999 July 1999 June 1999 May 1999 April 1999 March 1999 February 1999 January 1999 December 1998 November 1998 October 1998 September 1998 August 1998 July 1998 June 1998 May 1998 April 1998 March 1998 February 1998 January 1998 December 1997 November 1997 October 1997 September 1997 August 1997 July 1997 June 1997 May 1997 April 1997 March 1997 February 1997 January 1997 December 1996 November 1996 October 1996 September 1996 August 1996 July 1996 June 1996 May 1996 (earliest)	View patterns by type Body Sculpting Cycling BoxAerobics Stability Ball Step Hi/Lo (floor) Abs Quad Step Warmup/Cooldown Double Aquatic Funk Slide Other