by Kristine Thomason: Also…where do I get that yoga mat?
Time: 2 minutes
Equipment: Yoga mat
Good for: Total-body toning, cardio
Instructions: Flow from one pose to the next. Complete the yoga flow as many times as you’d like. You can also hold each pose for more than one breath, to make the flow a bit longer.
Grab one of these super-grippy, self-rolling, Alexa-enabled smart yoga mats featured in this workout by visiting BackslashFit.com. (We are affiliated with Backslash Fit.)
Mountain Pose
How to: Stand with your feet parallel and pressed firmly into the mat. Let your arms rest at your sides, with palms facing forward. Imagine you are hugging a block between your feet. Hold for a complete breath, then move to the next pose.
Chair Pose
How to: Keeping your feet in line with your hips, lower your butt down until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Keeping your arms straight, bring them forward and up until your upper arms are in line with your ears. Hold for a breath, then continue to the next pose.
Forward Fold
How to: Stand with feet parallel and slightly wider than your hips, your spine tall and a soft bend in your knees. Fold your torso over your legs, bringing your chest as close to your legs as possible and the crown of your head toward the mat. Hold for a breath, then continue to the next pose.
High Lunge
How to: Plant your hands firmly on the ground. Keep your left foot in place, then stretch your right leg behind your body, and press the weight into the ball of your foot. Root your feet foot firmly into the ground and rise up, lifting both arms overhead, keeping your shoulders down. Lift your torso, and square your hips to face forward. Take a breath, then continue to the next pose.
Warrior II
How to: From high lunge, twist your back foot so it forms a 90-degree angle with your leg, and press it firmly into the mat. Then extend your arms out to the sides at shoulder height, palms facing down, as you pivot your torso, so it’s lined up with your hips. Your gaze should be at your front hand. Hold for one breath, then lower into high plank position.
Low Hover
How to: From high plank position, with your hands directly below your shoulders and legs behind you, slowly lower your body until it’s hovering a couple inches about the ground. Hold here for one breath, then rise back to high plank position.
Downward Dog
How to: From plank position, tuck your toes, lift your hips up and back, and extend your legs. Press your shoulders toward the floor and relax your neck. Spread your fingers wide on your mat, with palms pressed against the floor. Move to the next pose.
High Lunge
How to: From downward dog, bring your right foot between your hands, and keep the left leg stretched behind your body. Root your feet foot firmly into the ground and rise up, lifting both arms overhead, keeping your shoulders down. Lift your torso, and square your hips to face forward. Take a breath, then continue to the next pose.
Warrior II
How to: Twist your back foot so it forms a 90 degree angle with your leg, and press it firmly into the mat. Then extend your arms out to the sides at shoulder height, palms facing down, as you pivot your torso, so it’s lined up with your hips. Your gaze should be at your front hand. Hold for one breath, then lower into high plank position.
Low Hover
How to: From high plank position, with your hands directly below your shoulders and legs behind you, slowly lower your body until it’s hovering a couple inches about the ground. Hold here for one breath, then rise back to high plank position.
Downward Dog
How to: From high plank position, tuck your toes, lift your hips up and back, and extend your legs. Press your shoulders toward the floor and relax your neck. Spread your fingers wide on your mat, with palms pressed against the floor. Move to the next pose.
Chair Pose
How to: From downward dog, hop your feet to the front of the mat. Keeping your feet in line with your hips, lower your butt down until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Keeping your arms straight, bring them forward and up until your upper arms are in line with your ears. Hold for a breath, then continue to the next pose.
Mountain Pose
How to: From forward fold, raise your body up and lift your hands over your head. Slowly bring them back down and fold them in front of your chest. Stand with your feet parallel and pressed firmly into the mat. Imagine you are hugging a block between your feet. Complete the entire flow as many times as you’d like.
The Best Mat For A Sweaty Yoga Flow
Women’s Health worked with backslashfit to create the world’s first smart mat. In addition to being one of the grippiest and softest mats around, it also:
- Rolls itself up. That’s right. Just flip it, click it, and watch this mat pick its own damn self up.
- Pairs with Women’s Health yoga on Amazon Alexa. Just use the command that comes with the mat’s packaging to turn on Alexa and hear the yoga flow of the day.