20 Minute Fat-Burning Yoga Workout!

Over the next few weeks I will be finishing up my Yoga certification! Since I’ve been doing a lot of research for my own Yoga lesson plan I thought I would share this 20 minute practice with you from Women’s Health Magazine, which you can also download to your iPod.

Yoga is great for the mind, body, and soul (not to mention getting in shape for your wedding day!). This workout is an active sequence of yoga flows called vinyasa, which burns more than 450 calories an hour. This is a whole body workout, so make sure you repeat each one 5 to 10 times.

Backbend

Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Lace your fingers behind you (palms facing up). Inhaling, bend from your upper back, lift your chest, and press your shoulders down.

Forward Bend

Soften your knees and bend forward as you exhale, letting your torso hang in front of your thighs. Keeping your arms straight and fingers locked together, lift them up and over your head (ultimately reaching toward the floor in front of your feet).

Chair Pose

Inhale and bend your knees into a squat. Unlock and straighten your fingers, then separate your arms. When your thighs are nearly parallel to the floor, move your arms toward your ears. Keep your weight on your heels. Inhale, stand up, and lower your arms to your sides. Exhale.

Downward Facing Dog

Get on all fours, lift your hips, and straighten your arms and legs.

Plank Pose

Inhale as you shift forward into the top of a pushup position with your arms straight. Exhale, bend your elbows (keep them pointing back and hugging your body), and lower your body until your chest is on the ground.

Cobra Pose

Uncurl your toes so the tops of your feet are touching the ground and press your tailbone down. Hug your elbows in as you inhale, straighten your arms (keep a slight bend), and lift your chest off the ground. Exhale as you gently release your body back to the ground. Inhale, curl your toes under, and press your hips up and back into downward-facing dog. Exhale.

Photos and workout are courtesy of Women’s Health Magazine. You can read more of it HERE.

TGIF! 🙂