Yoga is a great way to bond as a family. As children are always active, yoga can be a great way to make use of their energy, positively. Yoga provides an opportunity for families to stay healthy and spend quality time together. Imagine you and your children without mobile phones or TV. Even the grandparents can join in and enjoy the activity together. Furthermore, yoga has many other benefits for the family.
It creates conversation, helps in managing stress, drives proper breathing techniques that affect mindfulness and increases self-confidence. To start practicing yoga as a family, here are some yoga poses you can try!
Eagle Pose
Eagle pose or Garudasana helps to stretch your hips, shoulder and upper back; strengthens the ankles; and increases your concentration and balance. Besides its benefits, this pose, as recommended by Pelan Pelan Bali, is the first pose that you can try out with your siblings. This challenging balance pose is pretty common in most yoga classes. To do this pose, let’s follow these simple steps below:
- Start by Tadasana (mountain pose) while you are facing a partner or your family member. Slightly bend your knee.
- Lift your left leg and cross your left thigh over to your right leg.
- Balance on your right leg.
- Cross your left arms to your right arms as if you are hugging yourself.
- Make sure that the backs of your hands are facing each other.
- Lift your hands up as if you are reaching the ceiling.
Warrior 1 Pose
The second yoga pose recommended by Pelan Pelan Bali is Warrior 1. This pose is great in strengthening your lower body and core, ankles, legs, arms, and shoulders. Here are the following steps to do this pose.
- Face your partner or your family member and begin with a mountain pose.
- Step your right foot backwards and turn your right toes around 45 degrees.
- Your left knee should be bent. Make sure it does not go over your toes.
- Square your hips and bring both of your arms up on the sides of your ears.
- Reach up to the sky.
Warrior 2 Pose with Arm Variation
This warrior pose helps in increasing your stamina with a slight of variation on the arms. It is great for your legs and core and can be performed by people of all levels. With this pose, Pelan Pelan Bali recommends you to use arm variation while you’re getting into Warrior 2 with your sibling to make it even more fun! Here are the steps to do Warrior 2 pose with arm variation:
- Face your partner and bring your left foot to the front. Bend your left knee with your toes pointing forward.
- Step your right foot back and turn it slightly to the right.
- Square your hips and make sure it is firm.
- Stretch both of your arms up to the sky.
- Drop your right arms down, pointing towards your partner and hold still.
Headstand with Leg Variation
The last fun pose is headstand or Sirsasana. There are a lot of benefits you will get if you are able to perform this pose. But remember, this challenging pose requires skill, strength, and focus. Not only it develops your core, headstand also improves your balance. Are you ready to do this pose with your family members? Follow the steps from Pelan Pelan Bali to start the headstand pose!
- Interlace your fingers together with your palms facing one another. Bring your hands and forearms to the ground.
- Your elbows should be placed directly under your shoulders.
- Place your head into your hands. The crown of your head should be on the floor while the back of your head rests against the clasp of your fingers.
- Check your alignment. Make sure your head, spine, shoulders and hips are in one line.
- Slowly, lift one of your foot up. Using your core strength, lift the other foot as well.
- Engage your core and thighs. Extend your legs up.
- For variation, spread your legs and hold still.
- Bring your legs down slowly.
If learning yoga as a family sounds exciting to you, why not all fly to Bali and join our yoga retreat? Pelan Pelan Bali has a yoga package that accommodates a family of four. View here for more details. See you on the mat!