*This is a guest post
I am sure many of you will agree that motherhood is one of the toughest journeys a woman can ever go through in her life. From the outside, it may seem like mothers have it all figured out. But if you are the mother, you are fully aware of how chaotic life can be.
With all the responsibilities that you have to take care of—your work, your children, the house, the pets, it will be difficult for you to find time to take good care of yourself. For sure, fitness will take a backseat and would be the least of your concerns. We know that is totally understandable! But we are here to remind you that to be a great mother to your kids, a wonderful wife to your husband and an exceptional career woman, your health is your wealth.
Because of this, it is a must that you find time to take good care of the body that you have been blessed with. One of the best exercises that you can do to stay in shape is yoga. Yoga can help you to stay flexible, improve your posture and digestion, maintain your weight and above all, it can give you the relaxation you need to survive your stressful world.
The Yoga Moves You Can Do—No Matter How Busy You Are!
Lucky for you, there are plenty of yoga moves that you can easily and quickly perform. So if you are one busy mum, you can easily squeeze these into your daily routine. Here are some of them:
1.) Standing Forward Bend
As a mother, you are always on the go. This yoga move can be highly useful for you as it helps to strengthen your leg muscles. Plus, it also calms your nerves and relieves your stress.
How to Do This:
Begin with a mountain pose and place hands on hips. Exhale and as you do, hinge your hip forward. Make sure to keep your back as straight as possible when you do this. Let your fingertips touch the floor. Place it in line with your toes. If this position is too difficult for you, you can simply hold to your ankles. Hold the pose for as long as you are comfortable. DO not forget to exhale from time to time.
2.) Child’s Pose
Via: http://www.yogajournal.com
Carrying your kids, doing house chores and running errands are no easy feats. To do these, you need strong and flexible back, quads and hips and this yoga pose can help you achieve that.
How to Do This:
Kneel down on the mat. Your big toes must be in contact with one another, and the knees should be hip-width apart. After that, lean back and sit on your heels. Bring your forehead closer to the mat. Stretch out your arms in front of you, placing your palms flat on the floor. Close your eyes. Inhale and exhale deeply. Hold the position for at least a minute.
3.) Legs Up The Wall
Via: https://www.gaia.com
If you have been running around the city or your home all day, this is the best yoga pose that you can perform. It helps you to achieve a good night sleep and can even keep signs of aging at bay.
How to Do This:
Lay down on the floor with your legs bent and feet flat on the floor. Place either a bolster pillow or a folded blanket under your sacrum. Bring your knees towards your chest and hug it. Slowly extend your legs towards the sky, keeping your neck relaxed as you do so. Hold the pose for 5 minutes. Slowly return to starting position by bending one leg then the other and put feet back on the floor.
4.) Plank
A mother needs to be strong to survive her tough schedule. With a plank pose, you can strengthen your upper body, allowing you to perform all your daily tasks in an efficient manner.
How to Do This:
Begin with a downward facing dog pose. After that, bring your chest to your shoulders and press into your palms, like you would do when you go into the beginning of a push-up pose. Press heels towards the wall at your back. Extend the crown of your head, making sure that you are forming a straight line from heels to head. Hold the pose for a full minute.
5.) Belly Twist
Via: http://yoganonymous.com
Every mama has to do this yoga pose at some point! This yoga is useful after delivery as it helps to tone your abdomen and strengthen your core. It is also recommended for busy mums since it relieves stress and stretches the back.
How to Do This:
Lie on the floor, stretching out your arms to your side and palms facing down. Bring your knees to your abdomen. Slowly drop them to your left side. The thighs must be parallel to your arms. Turn your head to your right. Hold the pose for a few seconds. Afterwards, do the same steps on the other side.
6.) Corpse Pose
Via: http://www.yogajournal.com
This may seem like a funny name for a yoga pose, but it is named as such because you will feel relax and calm (like a corpse!) when you do this pose. This is a perfect breather in between your crazy activities.
How to Do This:
Begin with seated position. Extend your legs in front of you. Lean back and rest your arms on the floor. Gently lift hips off the floor and slowly place it towards your tailbone. Allow your legs to stretch out naturally in front of you. Release your shoulders. Move your head up and down. Place your arms at your side. At this point, just give in—let yourself relax. Remove the tension in your joints. Close your eyes. Let mouth open naturally. Stay in this position for 5 minutes or more.
Truly, yoga is the best option that you have to stay fit despite your busy schedule. All you need to have is a yoga mat, a tutorial video, and a few minutes to spare and you are ready to perform these poses!
Emily is founder of BodyShape101.com, a blog where she and her associates talk about exercise, fitness, and yoga. Their aim is to help people like you to achieve perfect body. BodyShape101 is concentrated on exercise & fitness tips, and making the most out of it. She is also a mother of one and she tries to find balance between her passion and her biggest joy in life.
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