what IF wednesday: AKA marzipan does the bridge pose

The what if – ing…

The Yoga Pose May – ing…

The bridge pose is one of my very favorites, as it both strengthens your lower back (making it easier to stand up straight AND for your body to support your boobs – CRUCIAL if you are a large-chested lady), while also toning your legs, hips, and lower abdomen. It is a great for: stress relief, stretching your back, massaging your internal organs, reducing menstrual discomfort, improving digestion, and eradicating fatigue. I often save this pose for the very end of my practice, and counter-balance it with either the happy baby pose or the cobra pose, for all-over strength building and stretching.

1. lie on your back with your feet firmly planted, shoulder blades on the mat, and your hands on the floor palm down at your side, or clasped beneath your body if you’re fancy.
2. EXHALE, pressing your arms and feet into the floor, and lift your butt off the floor. Bonus points: while you are doing this, actively tighten your legs, inner thighs, butt, and stomach, to pull your hips a little closer to towards the ceiling. [knees should be directly over heels, and your head flat against the ground. If this is uncomfortable, tuck your chin a little towards your chest]
3. Stay in the pose for 30 seconds – 1 minute, holding your body firm. Don’t forget to breathe!!!
4. Lower your butt to the floor. Breathe.

Marzipan Bridge Variation:

• Want to kick this pose up a notch by doing it in butt-boosting, thigh-loving sets?
• Begin with your feet together on the mat, complete steps 1-3. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat 3x.
• Move your feet to hip width apart on the mat (keeping your knees over heels), complete steps 1-3. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat 3x.
• Move your feet so that they are wider apart than hip width – or at about the edges of your mat. Complete steps 1-3. Hold for 30 seconds. Repeat 3x.

So here we go: What if I celebrated my body by eating intuitively and implementing an exercise routine in my life? What if I starting moving my body more regularly and with intent? What if I had so much energy that I could work double shifts everyday and still have time to love up this blog regularly? What if moving my body helped me to feel more at home in my skin? What if I kicked ass and ran a 5k – for the first time in my life? What if I followed through with my goals, because my body is the only one I’ll ever have and I want to love it into its absolute best potential?

I think I’ll do exactly that.

What about you marzipanlings? Do you find that exercise helps you build a positive relationship with your body? Do you do yoga? What’s YOUR favorite pose?

xoxox.

Tagged as: body image, c25k, exercise, healthy living, what if, yoga, yoga mat, yoga pose may