Yoga For A Beautiful You

8:37 PM Cintamuni 28 Comments

A photo of me and a friend at Magalawa Island, Zambales

Thanks to yoga, I am able to maintain my body without working out in a gym. I tried enrolling a few times for a gym membership in the past, but since they're a bit costly and I'm always so busy I hardly have extra time, I finally stopped and just resorted to exercising at home, particularly, yoga.

I already have yoga background so I basically know the "drill" or the basics of poses, since my aunt taught yoga lessons in my elementary years. Because of that, it's been very easy to me to do it at home, thanks to my friend who copied me a yoga dvd. And what I can say now that I'm doing it for more than six months, I noticed that my belly area is firmer even though I only do it once or twice a week. Now that is something to blog about! :)

And at this point, I can say that I'm already an intermediate yogini. Good job to me haha! So I would like to share with you a very special pose, the plank pose. See picture from yogajournal.com:


photo from yogaforum.com

Another form of plank pose below, an easier version:
photo from yogainmelbourne.com

This plank pose strengthens your core, your body minus the legs and arms. This pose is said to be a total body exercise since it's supposed to firm and tone the arms and legs too not just the belly area. In fact, when I was in Gold's gym, I usually see this pose being taught by personal trainers to those with big bellies (as what I have observed) and even those who are obese (sorry for the term). It looks like a very easy pose, but it is kinda hard. It is recommended to be done or stay in this pose 60 - 90 seconds, with three repetitions. To set your expectations right, at first, you might not be able to last 60 seconds as when I first did this, I only lasted 50 seconds, I found myself catching for breath! But doing it regularly, say every morning, you will gradually improve. And even with just this pose only, you will see how it can make your core firmer and more toned :)

I would like to blog about the other poses too in the future, but in the mean time, why don't you try the plank pose? And tell me about your experience :)


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28 comments:

Unknown said...

Good for you! I tried yoga with my sister just here at home but the exercise doesn't seem to be in my liking. I'm more on hip-hop-abs, zumba, karate and running..the more intense stuff. But I'd really like to try yoga again because I've seen how good it's doing to my sis too. She's become fit and firm. I bet you are too. :-)

Mommy Maye said...

Yoga is really good no. I must try this un lang saan kaya sa bahay hehe. My son is everywhere e. Any tips?

Mommy Maye
www.momayescraft.tk

Vera said...

Yay for you! I hope that in Feb you continue to do yoga at your own pace. :)

Eliz Frank said...

I love yoga too and have studied it for many years. It's a great one for people of all ages and shapes. TY! :-)
Eliz

I like yoga it keeps you more focus in everything.

Joyful Mess said...

I have never tried yoga before, but I'm really interested in trying it. Must find time this year when the little boy grows a little older!

Ron Leyba said...

Haven't tried YOGA . I might try it out, soon.

Olga said...

A lot of people are into yoga now. I really should squeeze a fitness regimen in my schedule. I must be the only one now living a sedentary lifestyle. :P

krizza said...

Me, too I'm really interested to try yoga exercises. I hope I can soon start with some easy poses so I could do this even in my own room. Thanks for reminding.

Mylene said...

This pose is for me. I have a big belly. Might try it one of my good mornings :D

kat said...

I hope I can find an exercise regime that I would enjoy.

oo nga adami na nagyoyoga. i wanted to try it out too dati pero i just cant seem to find the time to do it. parang id rather sleep than do something. hahah. tamad mode.

I want to try yoga too. It seems nice and rejuvenating. I think I'm going to try one of the poses you shared.

I don't know if there is yoga here...

jellybelly said...

I've doing yoga for more than a year now. I signed up on myyogaonline. They have really great yoga teachers. I loved it since the first time I tried it. I do that instead of lifting weights at the gym now although I still do cardio at the gym. It's easier on an aging body :)

Two of my cousins are into yoga and even go to India for it. We don't have much exposure to yoga. I even have a hard time attending exercise class much more looking for a yoga class. This is what we lack in Zamboanga City...

Unknown said...

i'm interested with yoga, i have a book and follow the poses; problem is i am inconsistent because of my schedules and laziness haha

Allan D said...

I want to try this one too. I know it can be done at home rather than going to gym. I will look for a dvd copy of yoga too.

aby ♥ said...

good job..i want to try yoga again.. well i tried it before by following the videos at home. haha i am not sure if im doing it correctly haha

Velasco said...

Plank pose is one of my favorite too.I usually hold it for 60 seconds ( as suggested by the book) and followed by other yoga poses.i love yoga too. I believe its the one helping me maintain my weight.

Meikah said...

How long have you been doing yoga? I have a lot of friends who are doing it, but I have to enroll in a class, yet. :)

Cintamuni said...

Been doing the vinyasa regularly for more or less six months now :)

Toto said...

Yoga is really great to tone our bodies and it even helps us in relaxing.

I've had this as a mental note. Try yoga this week when I go back to the gym.

Aileen said...

I read somewhere that if you have to choose the best ab exercise, it would be the plank pose. Good! Since I really hate crunches hehehe. For first timers, I think holding this pose for 30 seconds would be a good start, then just gradually build up from there. Then level it up by doing the side planks (ouch!)

Marie said...

I did yoga even when I was pregnant haha. In fact I did it more then than I do now hehe. what yoga do you do? I prefer ashtanga cuz it really heats the body :)

i have resorted to my tried and tested way of losing weight after giving birth last time which is running.... maybe this time after giving birth this june and recovering from it i might try to do both running and yoga... you think there's a yoga for somebody who just gave birth via CS? :-)

I don't think I can do Yoga sa tigas ng katawan ko as in..