Ace-Yoga

Fight fatigue with yoga

Sybille Gebhardt, yoga teacher and naturopath, describes which poses will help boost your energy

The first pose is a full body energising technique: arm swings.

If you are short on time and low on energy, this yogic exercise is great for increasing your energy levels. Stand with you legs hip width apart. To energise your whole body swing your arms up over your head with the inhalation and then bend your knees and swing your arms down with the exhalation. Repeat a few times and notice how you feel afterwards.

yoga for fatigue

Spinal twist: a lying down posture to help energise the internal organs.

For the spinal twist cross your right leg over your left and turn to your left side.

Lengthen the right arm up and then twist to the right and send your knees to the floor.

spinal twist

As the trunk turns, the kidneys and abdominal organs are activated and exercised. This improves the digestion and removes sluggishness. Take 10 – 20 breaths here. Then

move your knees back up, uncross them and rest.

Repeating on the other side, crossing your left leg over your right and turn to your right side.

Lengthen the left arm up and then twist to the left as you send your knees to the floor.

The spine becomes flexible and the hips move more easily.

Release and rest for 10 breaths.

Finally, nadi shodhana breathing technique to help boost energy and calm the mind. Sit comfortably on the floor or a chair making sure there is no strain in the spine to practice alternate nostril breathing. Breathing through alternate nostrils has a calming and balancing effect on the body and the mind.

Form vishnu mudra with your right hand by curling your first two fingers (index and middle finger) into the palm. Exhale through both nostrils. Then close your right nostril with your thumb and inhale through the left.

Close the left nostril as well using your ring and little finger and retain the breath for a moment. Release your thumb only and exhale through the right.

Continue inhaling on the same side and exhaling through the opposite side for a couple of minutes. Make the breath as quiet as possible and the exhalation twice as long as the inhalation. Keep your mind focused on the breath.

Gradually bring the practice to a close when you next exhale through your left nostril. Release your hand and sit quiet for a moment enjoying the benefits of the practice.

Sybille represents

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