5-Minute Yoga Routine

Eagle Pose in the Summer Palace

Finding time to exercise can be difficult, and even if you have free time, who says you want to spend your free hour working out? But I know many of you have that nagging feeling somewhere that you should be working out, or want to get fit.

I've found that yoga really helped me get back on the horse when it comes to regular exercise. I actually enjoy my work-outs, even if they're only 5 minutes or so, and I have noticed my body getting more flexible.

I can do yoga anywhere if I have a solid surface underneath my feet. For many poses you need a yoga mat, but you can also design a routine that doesn't require a mat.

Whenever you feel stressed, jittery or lack energy, try the following 5-minute mat-less yoga routine to get your energy flowing again:

1. Mountain: Start by placing your feet flat on the floor, toes spread out for balance. Stand up straight and control your breath.
2. Upward Salute: Raise your arms, with the palms together. Stretch and look upward.
3. Chair: keep your arms raised, but sink through your legs like you're sitting down on a chair. Great to create nice, firm thighs!
4. Standing Tree: bend your left leg, putting your left foot on your right thigh. Balance on the right leg while lifting your arms. Do the same for the other side.
5. Warrior III: stretch one leg back, and stretch your arms forward, putting your body horizontal, balancing on one leg. Same for the other leg.
6. Eagle: twist one leg around the other, and one arm around the other. Balance and sink through your leg until you feel it tensing. Then do the other leg and arm.
7. Extended Triangle: set your legs apart. Stretch your arms horizontally to the side. On an exhale, lean your right hand to your right foot, making an angle. The stretch on your side is phenomenal! Do the same for the other side.
8. Revolved Triangle: same, but in this case you move your right hand to your left foot and vice versa.
9. Wide-legged Forward Bend: keep your legs at the triangle position, but now bend forward (try to keep your back straight) and touch the floor.
10. Sun Salutation: go from lunge, to plank, to upward dog, and back to downward dog. See this site for a step by step guide to sun salutation.

In this whole routine, only your hands and feet need touch the floor at any time. So you can even do it outside, and not worry about your clothes getting dirty.
Enjoy!