Yoga is the perfect practice to improve body awareness. Body awareness helps you prevent injuries, improve your posture, improve your athletic performance, help reduce stress and relieve pain.
The following five yoga poses will help you improve your body awareness and strengthen your mind-body connection.
Mountain Pose (Tadasana):
This foundational pose may appear simple, but it's an excellent way to cultivate body awareness. Stand with feet together or hip-width apart, grounding evenly through all parts of your feet. Lengthen your spine, relax your shoulders, and bring your awareness to the alignment of your body from head to toe.
Cat-Cow Pose (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana):
This gentle, flowing sequence between arching and rounding the spine helps you connect with the movement and alignment of your spine and pelvis. Pay attention to the sensations in your back and the way your breath synchronizes with the movement.
Warrior I (Virabhadrasana I):
In Warrior I, you step one foot forward and bend your front knee, while extending your arms upward. This pose encourages you to feel the alignment and strength in your legs, hips, and torso, helping to improve body awareness and balance.
Plank Pose (Phalakasana):
Plank is a challenging pose that requires engagement and alignment throughout your entire body. As you hold the position, focus on keeping your body in a straight line from head to heels, engaging your core, and feeling the activation of your muscles.
Supine Spinal Twist (Supta Matsyendrasana):
This gentle twisting pose encourages you to feel the rotation and lengthening of your spine. As you twist, notice the sensations in your back, shoulders, and hips, and how your breath supports the movement.
