Yoga Poses To Strengthen Your Core

Many of us dream of getting those perfect abs and having that all important flat stomach but there are plenty of other reasons to strengthen our core. Did you know that strengthening your core not only helps promote good posture but it also helps strengthen your shoulders and your back.

Yoga is full of asanas that work on our core muscles, here are three of my favourites;

1. Plank

• Start on all fours with your arms straight.
• Tuck your toes under and step both feet back.
• Inhale and raise your chin and head so you’re looking straight in front of you.
• Take a few breaths here then bring your knees back down onto the mat so you’re on all fours again.
• From here you can rest in Child’s Pose or go into a Downward Facing Dog.

2. Seated Spinal Twist

• Lie on your back and hug both your knees to your chest
• Stretch your arms out wide and keeping your legs bent and knees together, drop them over to your right side
• Push your left shoulder down into your mat and lengthen your lower back and turn your head slightly to the left but only if it feels comfortable to do so.
• Repeat on the other side.

3. Chair Pose

• Starting in Tadasana (Mountain Pose) bend your knees and drop your hips bringing your weight onto your heels.
• Dropping your tailbone and keeping your front ribs in, lift your arms up shoulder width apart.
• Keeping your shoulders firm rotate your arms inward and gaze upward.
• Stay here for a few breaths then straighten your knees and relax your arms back in Tadasana.