Yoga To Strengthen Your Arms

Now that more and more people I know are becoming aware that I design yoga wear I often get asked questions about the merits of yoga. Most of them see these fantastic images on Instagram and in the magazines and think that’s what yoga is, contorting your body into all these weird and wonderful positions and showing off fabulous abs!

One question I get asked a lot is ‘Can yoga help me tone up?’ Now, while yoga won’t add bulk it does work the muscles in our body as we’re essentially bearing our own body weight in certain asanas. This not only helps strengthen our muscles but it also increases flexibility.

For all you regular gym go-ers out there who lift weights and do hundreds of body crunches, yoga won’t necessarily add any more definition to your body but it will maintain what you have. I stopped my personal training sessions over a year ago and my arms are still as toned as they were when I was training.

Here are a few of my favourite poses to strengthen the muscles in my arms:

1. Plank

• Start on all fours with your arms straight.
• Tuck your toes under and step both feet back, straightening your legs.
• Inhale and raise your chin and head so you’re looking straight in front of you.
• Making sure your body is parallel to the floor, engage your core and extend your chest.
• Exhale and push your body weight onto the palms of your hands evenly.
• Gaze towards your fingertips
• 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 or you can go into

2. Side Plank

• Starting in Plank bring your left palm towards the centre of your mat and roll onto the outer edge of your left foot.
• Place your right foot on top of your left.
• Press the palm of your hand into your mat and move your shoulders so they are not touching your ears.
• Making sure your right shoulder is directly above your left, extend your right arm toward the ceiling and gaze towards your extended hand if this comfortable for your next. If this is uncomfortable you can look to the side.
• Repeat on the other side.

3. Dolphin (Makarasana)

• Starting on all fours, place your forearms on the mat shoulder-width apart.
• Tuck your toes under and lift your hips up.
• Straighten your legs as you would if you were going into downward facing dog but keep your forearms pressed to the floor.
• If you feel that straightening your legs puts too much pressure on your back or spine keep your knees slightly bent.
• Keep your shoulders directly over your elbows and relax the base of your neck.