Yoga Poses to Warm Up Your Winter Practice

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

As winter settles in and temperatures drop, it can be tempting to hibernate indoors and skip your yoga practice. However, practising yoga during the colder months can incredibly benefit your physical and mental well-being. Yoga helps keep your body warm and flexible, boosts your immune system, and lifts your spirits.

Sun Salutations

Sun salutations are a classic sequence to kickstart your winter yoga routine. They help generate heat in the body and improve circulation. Start with a few rounds of sun salutations to warm up your muscles and prepare for deeper stretches. Click here for a more detailed look at sun salutation.

Cat-Cow Stretch

Begin on your hands and knees, arching your back as you inhale (Cow Pose) and rounding your spine as you exhale (Cat Pose). This gentle flow warms up the spine and massages your internal organs, promoting digestion and body warmth.

Downward-Facing Dog

This pose stretches the entire body, promoting flexibility and blood flow. It’s particularly beneficial for warming the hamstrings, shoulders, and back muscles.

Warrior Poses

Warrior poses are excellent for building strength and stability while generating body heat. They also help improve focus and mental clarity, which can be particularly useful during the gloomy winter months. Click here for a more detailed look at the warrior poses.

Bridge Pose

Bridge pose is a great way to open the chest and stretch the spine. It also engages the legs and glutes, promoting warmth and strength in the lower body.

Twisting Poses

Twists are fantastic for wringing out toxins and increasing blood flow to the organs. Incorporate seated or reclining twists into your winter practice to aid digestion and detoxification.

Camel Pose

Camel pose is an excellent heart opener that stimulates the thyroid gland and helps regulate body temperature. It also stretches the hip flexors, thighs, and chest.

Plank Pose

Plank pose engages the core, arms, and legs, making it an excellent choice for building heat and strength. Challenge yourself by holding it for longer durations as your practice progresses.

Savasana

Finish your winter yoga practice with a well-deserved savasana. This resting pose allows your body to absorb the benefits of your practice and calms the mind, reducing the stress and anxiety that can often accompany the winter blues.

Maintaining a consistent yoga practice during the winter months is an excellent way to stay warm, flexible, and healthy. Incorporate these yoga poses and sequences into your daily routine, and you’ll not only keep the cold at bay but also boost your overall well-being. Embrace the season with an open heart and a warm, flexible body, and let your yoga practice guide you through the chilly winter days.

If you want to learn more about the benefits of yoga, click here or click here for information on yoga and mindfulness to beat the winter blues. For help with yoga moves before bed, click here. Finally, don’t forget to tag us in your photos at @surrender_to_happiness. We love to see how all our readers are getting on.

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