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MobilityBeginnerHatha 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. Cat–Cow
  4. Bird Dog
  5. Extended Puppy
  6. Child’s Pose
  7. Sphinx Pose
  8. Cobra Pose
  9. Knees-to-Chest
  10. Reclined Hand-to-Big-Toe
  11. Bridge Pose
  12. Child’s Pose
  13. Sphinx Pose
  14. Cobra Pose
  15. Knees-to-Chest
  16. Reclined Hand-to-Big-Toe
  17. Bridge Pose
  18. Child’s Pose
  19. Sphinx Pose
  20. Cobra Pose
  21. Knees-to-Chest
  22. Reclined Hand-to-Big-Toe
  23. Reclined Twist
  24. 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” 1m
  3. 02 Tabletop“Push the floor away” 2m 57s
  4. Flow
  5. 03 Cat–Cow“Move from the tailbone first” 2m 57s
  6. 04 Bird Dog“Reach long, not high” 2m 57s
  7. 05 Extended Puppy“Melt the heart” 3m
  8. 06 Child’s Pose“Let the forehead be heavy” 1m 16s
  9. 07 Sphinx Pose“Pull the chest forward” 1m 16s
  10. 08 Cobra Pose“Lift with the back, not the arms” 1m 16s
  11. 09 Knees-to-Chest“Hug and release with the breath” 1m 16s
  12. 10 Reclined Hand-to-Big-Toe“Heel to the ceiling” 1m 16s
  13. 11 Bridge Pose“Press the feet, lift the hips” 1m 16s
  14. 12 Child’s Pose“Let the forehead be heavy” 1m 16s
  15. 13 Sphinx Pose“Pull the chest forward” 1m 16s
  16. 14 Cobra Pose“Lift with the back, not the arms” 1m 16s
  17. 15 Knees-to-Chest“Hug and release with the breath” 1m 16s
  18. 16 Reclined Hand-to-Big-Toe“Heel to the ceiling” 1m 16s
  19. 17 Bridge Pose“Press the feet, lift the hips” 1m 16s
  20. 18 Child’s Pose“Let the forehead be heavy” 1m 16s
  21. 19 Sphinx Pose“Pull the chest forward” 1m 16s
  22. 20 Cobra Pose“Lift with the back, not the arms” 1m 16s
  23. 21 Knees-to-Chest“Hug and release with the breath” 1m 16s
  24. Cool down
  25. 22 Reclined Hand-to-Big-Toe“Heel to the ceiling” 1m 28s
  26. 23 Reclined Twist“Let gravity twist you” 5m 55s
  27. Rest
  28. 24 Corpse Pose“Let the floor hold you” 4m 30s

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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