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Have you ever tried to lose weight? If yes, how many
times? If you are a woman, perhaps you've gone on a diet many
times. How about me? Of course, it's impossible for me to
count; that is to say, I've been trying to burn my extra
flesh more times then I can count. The result that I always
got can be summed up in one word -failure - because whenever
I promised myself to lose weight, my resolution was good for
only three days. To be honest with you, I've gained about 15
pounds since last summer quarter. Could you have guessed such
an extraordinary number? It's a fatal number for women. I'm
on a diet again with a strong mind. One thing I've learned,
however, is that dieting alone is not enough to lose weight.
Exercise is even more important. I'd like to talk about how
to do yoga.
Yoga is a good exercise to lose weight as well as jogging.
It is not only simple and relaxing but also can be done
wherever you are. Here's a fabulous 10-pose yoga routine. The
most important part of yoga is breathing deeply, so remember
to breathe deeply throughout each exercise and hold each pose
for a count of five deep breaths.
- Mountain Pose: Stand tall with your arms at your
sides.
- Extended Mountain Pose: Up on your toes. Interlace your
hands and extend them up to the sky as you slowly lift your
heels off the floor and come up on your toes. Become
steady.
- Tree Pose: Stand straight with your arms at your side.
Stare at one spot on the wall in front of you for balance.
Slowly lift your right foot and place it on the inside of
your left leg, as high up as you can. As you become more
confident, try to lift both arms overhead, palms pressed
gently together. Repeat on opposite side.
- Half Dog Pose: Find a table or chair at waist height.
Stand facing the table and bend over so that your palms
rest flat on the table's edge. Align your hips over your
feet - legs can be straight or bent slightly - and lengthen
your spine.
- Wide Leg Bent Knee with Dog and Cat Tilts: Stand with
your feet shoulder-width apart and knees relaxed and bent.
Place your hands on your knees and imagine that your navel
is being pulled up to the ceiling and then down to the
floor, alternately arching (dog tilt) and rounding your
back (cat tilt). Inhale as you arch your back, exhale as
you round it.
- Warrior Pose: Stand with feet about four feet apart,
arms stretched out and spread wide. Turn both feet and your
head to the right. Bend right leg slightly. Repeat to the
opposite side.
- Triangle: From the warrior pose, straighten legs and
keep your feet pointing to the right. Lean to your right
side. Extend your left arm up as you reach your right arm
down to your right leg. Gently rotate your ribcage around
toward the ceiling, breathing long and deep. (If your neck
hurts here, turn your gaze to the toes of your right foot.)
Repeat to the opposite side.
- Bent or Straight Leg Forward Bend: Sit on the floor and
stretch your legs out in front of you. Keep knees relaxed
and slightly bent if that is more comfortable. Bend forward
stretching your arms out to grab your feet. If you cannot
reach your feet, grab your shins. If this pose is
uncomfortable, simply lie on your back and hug your knees
to your chest, breathing long and deep.
- Chest Opener: Stand tall and interlace your hands
together behind your back. Lift your chest up toward the
sky as you draw your shoulder blades down your back.
- Mountain Pose with Neck Stretch: Stand tall and gently
tilt your head sideways, easing your right ear toward your
right shoulder. Repeat to the opposite side.
To find out more about yoga, I went to a website: www.ivillage.com The information
above is taken from that site.
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