6 Yoga Poses to Help You Train Like an Athlete

Yoga is certainly about the spiritual side of things, but it is absolutely possible to build plenty of strength and tone the body with the right poses. I recently chatted with Eoin Finn of Blissology Yoga at Wanderlust Whistler about poses that will help an existing yoga practice and also improve your strength and stamina in other workouts. It's all about working with your body's weight!

 

Straight-Arm Plank works the whole body — especially the legs, arms, and abs. Eoin loves this pose, since it forces the body to train itself to maintain alignment and keep joints safe.

• Start resting on all fours.
• With your palms flat, raise up off your knees onto your toes. Keep your hands directly below your shoulders.
• Contract your abs to keep yourself up and prevent your bottom from sticking up. Remember to keep your belly button pulled in.
• With your head and spine in line, keep your back flat — don't let it curve. Picture your body as a long, straight board.
• Hold for at least 10 seconds. Aim for 20 to 30 seconds in the beginning and work your way up to one minute as you get stronger.

 

Arm balances might look like they only keep the upper body engaged, but it's also about keeping your core strong. If you're looking to tackle Crow Pose, check out these tips to get balancing and build a stronger pose.

• Begin in a Wide Squat. Place your palms firmly on the ground in front of you. Be sure to spread your fingers as wide as you can, and press into your fingertips to release any pressure in your wrists.
• Now straighten your legs slightly and place your knees as high up onto your triceps as possible, toward your armpits.
• Shift your weight forward into your hands and see if you can lean the weight of your knees into the backs of your arms. Then try lifting one foot off the ground and then the other. If you can bring your toes together, you'll feel more compact and it'll be easier to balance. Squeeze your knees together slightly and pull your belly button in towards your spine to give you a sense of lightness.
• Stay here for five breaths, or you can work on straightening your arms. It's OK if you lose your balance and fall over. It took me a ton of tries to be able to stay balanced. Just keep trying!