10/23 TGIF DAILY DOSE of EXERCISE MOTIVATION (yoga)

These exercises are for our  beginners and our avid exercisers. Yoga is one of the BEST ways to tone your body, destress, and gain muscle. Here is a complete 20 minute exercise program to rev up your metabolism - Clare and Bev, this is a great one for you guys, too. Clare, you'll have to get over your floor hatred! LOL!

An active sequence of yoga flows — a form called vinyasa — burns more than 450 calories an hour, according to Sara Ivanhoe, host of 20 Minute Yoga Makeover: Weight Loss. I have her workout video and she is really good!

These two flows provide a total-body workout.

Repeat each one 5 to 10 times.

Crush calories with heart-revving yoga

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

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

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

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.

Yoga helps make your body lean & your blood flow.

I hope you will try these - They're a complete workout!

Who's working out w/me Friday?

Workout compliments of Women's Health Mag