Get Ready for the Winter Olympics…Yoga Style!
First, warm up your body from the inside with an Olympic breathing exercise. Athletes need to have a strong breath to compete at this level. Since it is the Winter Olympics, you need to breathe in deeply and raise your arms above your head in the shape of an O. Then, lower your arms and exhale strongly as if you are trying to see your breath in this winter weather. Repeat several times.
Now that your bodies are good and warm, it is time for snowboarding. Move into Warrior 2 Pose with your feet wide apart. Bend your front knee and extend your arms so they are parallel to the ground. For an extra challenge try to complete a 180 degree turn. Jump midair in this position as you switch lead legs. Try to have some “hang time!”
Next, it is time to go skiing. Move into Chair Pose as you bend your knees and bring your arms up overhead. Breathe deeply as you move your arms up and down as if you are skiing down a hill. Try to lift up on the balls of your feet and lower them as your arms move as well.
Hop into your bobsled with Boat Pose. Begin seated with your feet flat on the floor. Keep your spine straight as you raise your legs and bring your body into a “V” shape. Sway a little right and left as if you were on a sled.
Our last event is Ice Skating in Airplane Pose. Place your weight onto your right leg. Next, extend your left leg straight and strong behind you. Work toward lifting your arms in front of you. Breathe deeply as if you are gliding on the ice. Switch legs and continue practicing.
Have fun bringing the Winter Olympics to your home, classroom, or studio with these themed yoga poses.
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Editor’s note: This is a guest post by best-selling author and master teacher, Sara J. Weis. Inspiring children for over twenty years, through Go Go Yoga for Kids,Sara has combined her experience as an elementary teacher and certified kid and adult yoga instructor to help introduce children to the lifelong benefits of yoga. Sara is passionate about introducing children to yoga in child friendly ways because yoga has so many mental and physical benefits for children. She is the author of two bestselling books, Go Go Yoga for Kids: A Complete Guide to Using Yoga with Kids and Yoga Lessons for Children. She is also the creator of the Kids Yoga Challenge Pose Cards, and two online kids yoga training courses. Find out more at GoGoYogaKids.com.
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