Yoga has been around for more than 10,000 years and is practised by millions worldwide. From children to adults, male and female, anyone can benefit from yoga in some way
Whether you’re looking to increase flexibility, increase core strength, address your stress levels or shed some excess pounds, yoga could provide the answer.
Abu Dhabi Week caught up with local expert Sasha Quince, from Let’s Go Yoga, to find out how …
Benefits for the active:
Increases flexibility
Quiets the mind
Strengthens the lungs
Tones muscles
Builds core strength
Improves balance and coordination
Soothes the digestive system
Benefits for the inactive
Introduces breathing techniques
Builds overall strength
Establishes balance and improves memory
Improves spinal alignment
Quiets the mind and relieves stress
A simple beginner’s routine
Mountain - Tadasana
Stand, rooting down evenly into your feet and spreading the toes
Engage quadriceps and draw them upward. Firm the belly. Widen the collar bones. Practise against the wall
Breathe here, in and out, through the nose. Four breaths
Side Bend (right and left)
Inhale and raise your right arm up
Exhale, side bend to the left
Reaching your right arm over the head, look up. Ground down through your feet
Your left hand rests beside your left thigh. Breathe here for three counts and repeat on the left side
Warrior II - Virabadrasana II
Step the left foot back and bend the right knee with toes facing outward
Draw the belly in. Reach your arms away from your chest, with your shoulders over the hips. Your gaze should be forward
Engage the triceps to support the arms, and the quadriceps to support the legs. Repeat on the left side. You can do this against a wall too
Triangle - Trikonasana
Take a wide stance, turn your right toes forward and your left toes at a 90 degree angle
Reach your arms away from chest. Turn your hands to face up. Keep reaching your arm forward away from right hip
Lower right arm down to inner right leg. Spin left shoulder open and raise left arm up. Take your gaze up toward the left fingertips
Draw the right thigh muscle upwards, deepening the right hip crease. Microbend the right knee
Repeat on the left and use a wall to support your back, If necessary
Goddess
Take a wide step. Spin your toes outward and your heels inward
Bend your knees directly over your ankles and lower your hips. Make sure your feet remain on the floor
Squat lower. Breathe five times
Tree Vrkasana
Stand in the mountain pose. Feel your weight equally on all four corners of both feet
Begin to shift the weight over to the right foot, lifting the left foot off the floor
Bend the left knee, bringing the sole of the left foot high onto the inner right calf. Press the foot into the calf and the lower leg back into the foot. Keep both hips squared towards the front
Focus on something that doesn’t move to help you keep your balance. Repeat the move while standing on the left foot
Downward Dog
Come to your hands and knees with the wrists underneath the shoulders and the knees underneath the hips
Curl the toes under and push back raising the hips and straightening the legs
Let the head hang, move the shoulder blades away from the ears towards the hips. Engage the quadriceps strongly to take the weight off the arms
Rotate the thighs inward, keep the tail (hips) high and sink your heels towards the floor. Breathe five times
Childs Pose- Balasana
Lower your knees to the floor. Sink your hips back to rest on your heels. If your hips don’t touch, widen your knees
Rest your chest over your thighs and your arms in front of you. Take five full deep breaths
Let’s Go Yoga
Flow Yoga (combined levels)
Sundays and Wednesdays, 7pm to 8pm, Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi, Mizan Spa
Prenatal Yoga (combined levels)
Monday 5.45pm to 6.45pm, One to One Hotel
Kids Yoga (ages four to eight)
Wednesdays 5pm, Abu Dhabi Golf Club
Kids Yoga (ages three to five)
Tuesdays 2pm, Teddy Bear American Nursery
All details on class styles at www.letsgoyogame.com; bookings at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
