Now Feel the Flow: A Yoga Sequence to Build Energy and Confidence
By Tris Anderson
Courtney Brooks, the young and tenacious owner of Soul Sweat, was generous enough to share an ideal yoga sequence to do at home to prep and harness energy ahead of your TRIS Studio session – or anytime you want to refresh both mind and body.
Upward Facing Dog:
Helps to stretch the chest and abdominal muscles while strengthening the shoulders, triceps, forearms, and low back.
Seated Prayer:
First pose we start class with during our breathing exercises. Helps center the body and mind and prepare for our flow.
Crescent Lunge:
Stretches the hip flexors and quadriceps. This is a useful counter-stretch for front load-bearing workouts such as cycling and running, as well as for those who sit much of the day.
Tree Pose:
Strengthens the legs and core while opening the hips and stretching the inner thigh and groin muscles. One of yoga's biggest benefits, in general, is that it helps build better balance, which helps with any number of other physical activities.
Wheel Pose:
Stimulates the breath, opens the chest and shoulders, improves spinal flexibility, improves strength, and may even improve blood glucose levels and adrenal function. Can be down with both feet planted on the ground, or one leg lifted, as seen here.
Warrior Two:
Standing strength pose meant to energize the body and mind, increasing concentration and stamina. This posture strengthens the legs as it opens up the chest and hips.
Child’s Pose:
Helps to stretch your back and muscles around your hips. Our “resting” pose in yoga, it can be used to calm the mind, slow down the breathing, meditate, and relax. Often done at the beginning of class.
Visit Courtney or another Soul Sweat instructor for a class at one of their two locations:
Old Saybrook Soul Sweat
455 Boston Post Road
Old Saybrook, CT 06475
(Located in Saybrook Junction Plaza)
New Haven Soul Sweat
300 Crown Street
New Haven, CT 06511
(Located in Eighteen High apartment building, ground floor)
See studio schedules online at: soulsweatct.com
