Category: Yoga

Evening Yoga Routine for Releasing Your Tension

Yoga Admin September 27, 2012
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A nice, calming evening yoga routine is a great way to settle in for bed after a long, hectic day. All of the poses selected for this evening yoga routine have been based upon their relaxing and restorative benefits.

Cow Face Pose

This pose does an excellent job of opening up the hips, an area of the body that can hold a lot of tension built-up over the course of the day. Start by kneeling onto the backs of your feet and let your hands come down to your sides. Then, lift your left leg up, crossing it over the other leg and wrapping it around your body so that your foot is resting next to your right sit bone. Allow your other leg to tighten in closer to your body and rest your hands on each foot. Be sure that you remain on your sit bones. To deepen the stretch, you can move the left leg even deeper to wrap around your body. Cow face pose will leave you relaxed in this evening yoga routine.

Bridge Pose

In bridge pose, start out by lying flat on your mat with your arms at your sides and the palms facing up. Slowly and with control, tighten your bottom, quads, feet and shoulder muscles to bring your bottom off the mat to create a sloped bridge with your body. Be sure that you are cushioning your neck with the strength and support of your back. Once reaching the edge of your own comfort level, be sure that you are pressing your feet and the backs of your arms deeply into the mat. If needed, use a yoga block underneath your lower back for additional support.

Reclining Bound Angle Pose

This pose is a great compliment to bridge pose as it works to relieve the muscles you just used. Start by lying flat on your back with your hands at your sides and your palms facing up. Bend your knees and bring your feet to touch, locking the bottoms of your feet together. While still lying flat on your back, being certain that your lower back is still touching the mat, try to draw your thighs down closer to your mat, feeing the stretch and release in the inner thighs and hips. Hold for at least thirty seconds. If you are too sleepy for a shavasana at the end, the reclining bound angle pose works as a great substitute.

Try these series of poses as an excellent evening yoga routine to unwind from your day.