HEALTH

Tired of the same old sun salutations? These twists on classic yoga poses will seriously wake up your workout.  

Wide-legged Downward Dog 

This variation targets your hamstrings, calves, and lower back. 

1. Come onto your hands and feet in Down Dog.

2. Inhale and then exhale to step your heels off the mat, pointing your toes in slightly in the wider stance.

3. Relax your head between your shoulders, and hold for five breaths. 

Open Triangle

Stretch your body even further with this challenging twist.

To get into triangle pose:  

1. Begin with the regular downward facing dog. 
2. Step your right foot forward between your hands and rise up into the warrior pose, and open your hips, arms, and chest. 
3. Straighten your right leg and turn your left toes slightly to the right, making a 45-degree angle. 
4. Keep both legs straight as you reach your right hand straight out over your right leg. Lower your right hand, resting it on your right shin or a block or place your palm flat on the floor. 
5. Extend your left arm straight up and gaze at your left fingertips. 

To try open triangle:

1. Hinge forward from your hips, keeping your spine long. 
2. Place your left hand to the outside of your right foot as you open your torso to the right. 
3. Use your right hand to draw your right hip back so it stays in line with your left hip. 
4. Turn your head to gaze at your right thumb. 
5. With an inhalation, lift your torso upright and lower your arms. 
6. Turn to the left, reversing the position of your feet, and repeat for the same length of time on the opposite side. 

Airplane Squat

Amp up the strengthening power of yoga by incorporating a squat.  

1. Get into airplane by standing firmly on your left leg, tilting forward and lifting your right leg up behind you with arms by your side. 
2. Bend your left knee and lower down as far as you comfortably can into a single-leg squat while still keeping right leg extended. 
3. Do five slow squats. 

Are you a yogi? How do you switch up your workouts? Let us know below!  

by Alexa Matthews | 2/1/2016