Begin in Mountain Pose (Tadasana) and inhale the arms overhead. Exhale to bring your hands to your sacrum. Lift through your heart as you begin to open the throat and tilt the head back. Breathe deeply for 3-5 breaths. Move side-to-side with fluidity, connecting each movement to your breath. Full of surrender, wide-legged forward bends allow the back, neck and shoulders to completely release. As you begin to bend back, lengthen through the throat. If this feels good, you can reach for the tops of the feet with the hands and energetically squeeze the shoulder blades together. Hold for 3-5 deep breaths, and return your palms to your sacrum to help press you back up. Send your knees wide and sit back on your heels, taking a few moments of rest. Camel pose is great for alleviating fatigue or relaxing mild anxiety. It’s a juicy heart opener, and a deep stretch for the front of the body and even the hip flexors (psoas). Point through your toes and lift from the heart as you begin to open the throat to gently release the head back. Again, the crown of your head may come all the way down to the floor. Ground your legs and hands into the mat while feeling the full inflation of the chest on each inhale. Fish pose helps to reestablish your focus after all the hard work of your practice.
