Two poses for today are Triangle Pose and Bridge Pose

Triangle Pose and Bridge Pose

Triangle Pose

Extended Triangle Pose is a standing yoga pose that tones the legs, reduces stress, and increases stability.

Steps

1. Begin standing at the top of your mat with your feet hip-distance apart and your arms at your sides. Begin to pay attention to your breath. Let go of distractions. Breathe softly and fully. Take a moment to tune into your body and draw your awareness inward.
2. Step your feet wide apart, about 4 to 5 feet. Check to ensure that your heels are aligned with each other.
3. Turn your right foot out 90 degrees so your toes are pointing to the top of the mat. The center of your right knee cap should be aligned with the center of your right ankle.
4. Pivot your left foot slightly inwards. Your back toes should be at a 45-degree angle.
5. Lift through the arches of your feet, while rooting down through your ankles.
6. Raise your arms to the side to shoulder-height, so they’re parallel to the floor. Your arms should be aligned directly over your legs. With your palms facing down, reach actively from fingertip to fingertip.
7. On an exhalation, reach through your right hand in the same direction as your right foot is pointed. Shift your left hip back so your tailbone and pelvis tilt toward the wall or space behind your left foot. Fold at your right hip. Keep your right ear, shoulder, and knee on the same plane — do not let your torso drop forward. Turn your left palm forward, with your fingertips reaching toward the sky.
8. Rest your right hand on your outer shin or ankle. If you are more flexible, place your right fingertips or palm on the floor to the outside of your right shin. You can also place your hand on a block. Align your shoulders so your left shoulder is directly above your right shoulder.
9. Gently turn your head to gaze at your right thumb.
10. Drawdown through the outer edge of your back foot. Extend equally through both sides of your waist. Lengthen your tailbone toward your back heel. Keep your left arm in line with your shoulders.
11. Hold for up to one minute. To release, inhale and press firmly through your left heel as you lift your torso. Lower your arms. Turn to the left, reversing the position of your feet, and repeat for the same length of time on the opposite side.

Benefits

• Strengthens the legs, knees, ankles, arms, and chest
• Stretches and opens the hips, groins, hamstrings, calves, shoulders, chest and spine
• Increases mental and physical equilibrium
• Helps improve digestion
• Reduces anxiety, stress, back pain, and sciatica

Bridge Pose

The Bridge Pose stretches the chest, neck, and spine as well as the reproductive and digestive organs. It calms the mind and boosts mood, helping with anxiety, fatigue, and depression.

Steps

1. Lie in a supine position on the ground, making sure that the head is in line with the spine. Bend the knees, and place the feet at a distance to the buttocks, keeping them parallel and hip-distance apart.
2. The arms are alongside the torso. The shoulders are rolled backward to bring them close to each other.
3. Peel the spine off the floor vertebrae by vertebrae while keeping the head and the top of the shoulders on the ground. Raise the chest and navel as high as possible, and push the chest towards the chin by pressing firmly into the legs. Keep the feet and shoulders in the same position. The soles of the feet remain flat on the floor.
4. The hands may be interlocked, or the palms may face the ground. Very flexible students can aim to hold their ankles with their hands. In any case, the lower legs have to be kept perpendicular to the ground, avoiding strain on the knees.
5. In the final position, the body is supported by the head, neck, shoulders, arms, and feet.

Benefits

• Stretches the chest, neck, and spine.
• Stimulates lungs and thyroid.
• Stretches the colon and abdominal organs.
• Tones the female reproductive organs.
• It calms the brain and helps alleviate stress and mild depression.
• Reduces anxiety, fatigue, and insomnia.