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MobilityBeginnerAshtanga pace

Floor Yoga for Back and Hips

A longer mat-based practice that revisits backbends and reclined stretches without a standing series.

The shape of this practice

45:00 total
  1. Easy Seat
  2. Tabletop
  3. Sun Salutation A ×5
  4. Sun Salutation B ×2
  5. Ashtanga flow ×3
  6. Sun Salutation B
  7. Reclined Hand-to-Big-Toe
  8. Reclined Twist
  9. Corpse Pose
  • Warm up
  • Salutations
  • Flow
  • Holds
  • Cool down
  • Rest

Begin close to the ground and give yourself time to settle. This whole practice stays on the mat, moving between seated, all-fours and reclining positions. Where a pose returns, notice what has changed without assuming you need to go further. Take a comfortable version and stay with your breath. When you reach Corpse Pose, let the floor support you for 4 minutes and 30 seconds before you sit up.

The sequence

  1. Warm up
  2. 01 Easy Seat“Lift from the crown, not the chest” 57s
  3. 02 Tabletop“Push the floor away” 57s
  4. Sun Salutation
  5. Sun Salutation A11 movements · one breath each · 5 rounds 6m 15s
    1. Exhale Mountain
    2. Inhale Upward Salute
    3. Exhale Forward Fold
    4. Inhale Halfway Lift
    5. Exhale Knees-down lower
    6. Inhale Cobra
    7. Exhale Downward-Facing Do...
    8. Inhale Step forward
    9. Exhale Forward Fold
    10. Inhale Rise
    11. Exhale Mountain
  6. Sun Salutation B19 movements · one breath each · 2 rounds 3m 50s
    1. Exhale Mountain
    2. Inhale Chair
    3. Exhale Forward Fold
    4. Inhale Halfway Lift
    5. Exhale Knees-down lower
    6. Inhale Cobra
    7. Exhale Downward-Facing Do...
    8. Inhale Warrior I
    9. Exhale Knees-down lower
    10. Inhale Cobra
    11. Exhale Downward-Facing Do...
    12. Inhale Warrior I
    13. Exhale Knees-down lower
    14. Inhale Cobra
    15. Exhale Downward-Facing Do...
    16. Inhale Step forward
    17. Exhale Forward Fold
    18. Inhale Chair
    19. Exhale Mountain
  7. Flow
  8. Ashtanga flow19 poses · 25s each · 3 rounds 23m 45s
    1. Cat–Cow
    2. Bird Dog
    3. Extended Puppy
    4. Child’s Pose
    5. Sphinx Pose
    6. Cobra Pose
    7. Knees-to-Chest
    8. Reclined Hand-to-B...
    9. Bridge Pose
    10. Child’s Pose
    11. Sphinx Pose
    12. Cobra Pose
    13. Knees-to-Chest
    14. Reclined Hand-to-B...
    15. Bridge Pose
    16. Child’s Pose
    17. Sphinx Pose
    18. Cobra Pose
    19. Knees-to-Chest
  9. Sun Salutation
  10. Sun Salutation B19 movements · one breath each 1m 55s
    1. Exhale Mountain
    2. Inhale Chair
    3. Exhale Forward Fold
    4. Inhale Halfway Lift
    5. Exhale Knees-down lower
    6. Inhale Cobra
    7. Exhale Downward-Facing Do...
    8. Inhale Warrior I
    9. Exhale Knees-down lower
    10. Inhale Cobra
    11. Exhale Downward-Facing Do...
    12. Inhale Warrior I
    13. Exhale Knees-down lower
    14. Inhale Cobra
    15. Exhale Downward-Facing Do...
    16. Inhale Step forward
    17. Exhale Forward Fold
    18. Inhale Chair
    19. Exhale Mountain
  11. Cool down
  12. 07 Reclined Hand-to-Big-Toe“Heel to the ceiling” 57s
  13. 08 Reclined Twist“Let gravity twist you” 57s
  14. Rest
  15. 09 Corpse Pose“Let the floor hold you” 5m 27s

What helps

Props that make this easier

  • Non-slip yoga mat A 4–6 mm mat with good grip makes standing poses steadier. View on Amazon
  • Cork yoga block Brings the floor closer in forward folds and supported poses. View on Amazon
  • Yoga bolster A firm support under knees or spine for restorative rest. View on Amazon
Setting up a home practice space?Our short list of props worth having, from mat to meditation cushion. See YogiSoul picks

As an Amazon Associate, YogiSoul earns from qualifying purchases. Links open Amazon in your country’s store.

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