Namaste

All photos by Rachel Issler

If your New Year's resolution is to exercise or try yoga, more power to you! This post is great place to start.

I recently teamed up with a local yoga studio, Ignite Yoga, and today I'll be sharing my experience and a set of poses for beginners. Ignite Yoga is located in downtown Centerville, Ohio. It is small, not overwhelming, and just a very peaceful place to be. The owner, Justina, took me through a beginners class and it was, for lack of a better term, flowy. The "flowiness" comes from the fact that Ignite is a Vinyasa studio, which means that it focuses on the flow of yoga. Justina was extremely knowledgeable, fun, and down-to-earth.


I had always done yoga videos off of my iPad but this experience was so much better. There's just something about human interaction and the overall atmosphere of a yoga studio that made me fall in love with yoga all over again.

Without further adieu, here are some of the poses I worked on with Justina!

1: Child's pose
For this pose, sit back on your heels, stretch your arms forward, and rest your head on the mat.


2: Downward Dog
Gently push up into the pose with your heels on the floor and your knees bent slightly.

3: Forward fold
Stand up, grab your elbows, and let your body hang as you feel your spine lengthen

4: Extended Mountain Pose
Reach hands to ceiling


5: Side bend
Grab wrists and slowly bend over to each side.

6: Tree pose
Bring your hands to center and place the sole of your foot as high as it is comfortable on the inside of your leg (just not on your knee joint!)


7: Yoga squat
Turning your feet outwards, come to a squatting position. Open your hips by pushing back with your elbows.


8: Downward Dog (2)


9: Leg High
From downward dog, lift one leg toward the ceiling


10: Warrior
Bring your raised leg forward and lunge into warrior pose


(Repeat 8,9,10 on your other leg)

11: Plank


12: Locust Pose
Lower down onto your stomach, lace your fingers behind your back, and raise your legs off the ground.


13: Cobra

14:Seated Forward Bend

15:Ending Sequence

And that's it! Bring this refreshing yoga feeling into the rest of your day.

Thank you so much, Justina, for having me!
I also got to try out some headstands, which was out of my comfort zone but really fun.



For this workout, I wore my favorite workout outfit ever. On the bottom, I wore Devon Maryn capris. The stripe detail on the side is adorable, and it has subtle pockets that can hold your phone, keys, or earbuds while you're on the go. On top, I wore a Devon Maryn peek-a-boo sweatshirt that is light and airy. Underneath, I wore a Lululemon tank.



Xo,
Meg

Thank you, Ignite Yoga and Devon Maryn for sponsoring this post

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