An all-around yoga exercise: 12-step greetings to the sun

One of the all-encompassing yoga exercises is the 12-step Greetings to the Sun. Do it once or twice when you get up in the morning to relieve stiffness and strengthen the body. Several repetitions at night help you to relax. Insomniacs often find that six to 12 rounds help them fall asleep.

1. Stand on your chest with your feet slightly apart and your palms folded.

2. Take a deep breath while slowly raising your hands above your head, and bend back as much as possible while tensing the buttocks. Hold for three seconds.

3. Slowly exhale and lean forward, keeping your knees straight until your fingers touch the ground outside your feet. (If you can not touch the ground, move as close as possible.) Guide your head toward your knee.

4. Slowly inhale, bend your knees and place them there if your fingertips are not on the floor outside of your feet. Push your right foot back as far as possible, with the right knee about one centimeter above the floor (lunge). Now look as high as possible and arch your back.

5. Before exhaling again, slide your left foot back until it is next to your right, and stretch both legs so that your body forms a flat plane. Make sure your stomach is fed.

6. Slowly exhale, bend both knees to the floor, bend your hips up into the air, lower your chest and forehead to the floor.

7. Now inhale slowly and look up, bend your head back, then lift it up, followed by your upper chest and then your lower chest. Your lower body - down from the navel - should be on the floor and your elbows should be slightly bent. Hold for three to five seconds.

8. Slowly exhale and lift your hips until your feet and palms are flat on the floor and your arms and legs are stretched in an inverted V-position.

9. Inhale slowly and fetch your right foot forward as in position 4. The foot should be flat on the floor between the fingertips. The left leg should be almost straight behind you and the knee slightly off the ground. Lift your head, look up and arch your back.

10. Slowly exhale and bring your left foot to the right. Stretch your legs and stand, trying to keep your fingertips on the floor, and try to touch your head to your knees, as in position 3.

11. Inhale slowly, raise your arms and stretch backward as in position 2. Do not forget to tighten your buttocks. Hold for three seconds.

12. Slowly exhale and lower your arms to your sides. Relax. Repeat the series.

This time, I found something that I am definitely interested in! In fact, I’m into it right now. And it’s surprising for me to see that this topic falls under the spirituality niche, when it is more popular these days as a weight-loss method and way of promoting general wellness.

Can you lose weight, find your center.

Yes, I'm talking about yoga — and yoga.

The two yoga programs here offer classes.

About HerYogaSecrets.com HerYogaSecrets.com offers YogaBurn, an instructional course on yoga that helps you lose weight. It’s available in both digital and DVD formats. How do I apply?

About BrilliantYoga.com BrilliantYoga.com claims to be a yoga course for both weight loss and wellness. Unlike the programs we've already covered, BrilliantYoga offers an eBook that shows you how to use yoga to jumpstart your weight loss and wellness journey. How do I apply?