MAKE your MOVE
There’s something about the rising temps that makes you want to re-engage with your body in a meaningful way.
We caught up with Anna W., the studio coordinator at CorePower Yoga, CityCenterDC, who shared three simple exercises to move you into the summer months. Try them out in the studio or at home on your own!
FOR YOUR UPPER BODY: NEGATIVE PUSH UP
Begin in a high plank with your shoulders stacked over your knees and your heels over your toes. Tuck your hips under and squeeze your navel into your spine to engage through your core. Pinch your elbows into your sides and inhale, slowly lowering yourself to the ground with control. With your body on the mat and your palms still underneath your shoulders, connect your knees to the earth and exhale, press into your mat to extend your arms fully. Tuck your toes under once more and shift back into your high plank.
8 reps on each side, resting in between, repeat 3 times.
FOR YOUR LOWER BODY: CHAIR POSE VARIATION
Bring your feet together, bend your knees, and reach your fingers to the sky. Shift your weight into your heels to work your glutes and tuck your hips under to protect your lower back. Add on by pulsing up and down or move through your full range of motion for narrow squats. Exhale as you extend your legs and squeeze your glutes at the top.
8 full range squats, 8 pulses, 8 count hold, repeat 3 times.
FOR YOUR CORE: SIDE PLANK TWIST
Shift onto your right side and press your right forearm into your mat. Stack your shoulder above your elbow and point your fingers in the same direction as your gaze. Float your hips high while balancing on the knife edge of your right foot. (Option to stagger your left foot in front or your right or drop down to your right knee for a modified forearm side plank.) Inhale, reach your left fingertips to the sky, exhale, twist your fingertips underneath your body, reaching for your right oblique and repeat. Your left shoulder drops towards your mat as you twist.
8 reps on each side, repeat 3 times.
