10 everyday yoga poses you've already mastered (without realising).

by Mamamia Team June 9, 2015

Image via iStock.

I started doing yoga regularly about a year ago, and I absolutely love it. Every class brings new challenges, victories, and epiphanies. At this point, I’m pretty addicted—if I go more than a few days in a row without hitting the mat, I feel cranky and sluggish.

On the flipside, though, I’ve also started noticing that everyday life includes a bounty of yoga-like poses that most people don’t even realise they’re doing.

At the risk of sounding like the inspirational yoga teacher from a Lifetime movie, yoga is everywhere, all around us! You just have to know where to look. For example, here are 10 inadvertent yoga poses that most of us have already mastered . . .

1. Wedge Balance Pose

What It Looks Like: Standing on one leg while twisting around to grab the side of your ankle.

When You Do It: Trying to buckle the ankle strap on your wedge sandal.

Benefits: Strengthens your legs, improves balance, and god you look amazing in those wedges. (Post continues after gallery.)

5 yoga poses that'll fix your dodgy back

Legs up wall

This pose has a multitude of benefits for your mind and body. If you suffer from arteritis, headaches, high blood pressure or insomnia, the legs up move can be therapeutic. It can also relieve lower back pain and tired or cramped legs, and ease the symptoms of PMS, menstrual cramps and menopause. Added benefit: itll give you an energy boost and help ease anxiety and stress.

Puppy pose

The Puppy pose (best name ever) does great things for your upper body. Itll expand your chest, improve flexibility in your spine, and relieve any tension in your upper arms, shoulders and neck. It also stretches out your abdominals, opens your hips and stretches your hamstring. In terms of wellbeing, doing the Puppy pose will calm your mind and relieve symptoms of chronic stress, tensions and insomnia.

Corpse pose

It sounds morbid, but the corpse pose is the ultimate relaxation pose and will rejuvenate your body and mind. It can physically relax you, help to lower blood pressure, and reduce the symptoms of headaches, fatigue and insomnia. The pose can also calm your brain and help to ease stress and mild depression.

Standing forward fold

This pose positions your head below your heart, so straight away the rush of blood to your head will give you a big boost of oxygen. This has some great results - it can help to ease feelings of nervousness, stress, anxiety, depressions and fatigue, and relieve symptoms of asthma, menopause, headaches and insomnia. Physically, it stretches your hips, hamstrings and calves, keeps your spine strong and flexible, and strengthens your thighs and knees.

2. Backseat Arm Twist Pose

What It Looks Like: A deep twist of the torso while reaching one arm behind you as far as you can.

When You Do It: Reaching into the backseat at a stoplight to frantically dig through your purse for a piece of gum.

Benefits: Increased flexibility, fresh breath.

3. Heart-Opening “Shut Up, Mom” Pose

What It Looks Like: A deep breath into the chest while rolling your shoulders back, closing your eyes, and trying to clear your mind of negative thoughts.

When You Do It: On the phone with your mom when she subtly references your shriveling ovaries and how “odd” it is that you haven’t found a husband yet.

Benefits: Positive energy, lowered blood pressure, another day of tentative family harmony.

http://cdn.theglow.com.au/app/uploads/2015/05/kim-kardashian-documentary-02.jpg Kim K has this pose down. (Image via Instagram)

4. Front Camera Pose

What It Looks Like: An extension through the back of your neck while your chin tilts down slightly.

When You Do It: Trying to find the best angle to take a selfie.

Benefits: Release of tense neck muscles, more likes on Instagram.

5. Lounging Balance Pose

What It Looks Like: Laying on your side with legs extended, one arm bent, and your head resting in your palm.

When You Do It: Watching shows on your iPad in bed.

Benefits: Core strength, improved balance, getting caught up on Game of Thrones. (Post continues after gallery.)

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6. "It's Up Here Somewhere" Pose

What It Looks Like: A lengthening stretch through your whole body with your arms straight up above your head.

When You Do It: Trying to reach something on a high shelf in the closet.

Benefits: Improved circulation, release of stress, unearthing that hideous painting your boyfriend's aunt gave you in time to hang it up for her impromptu visit.

7. Monkey Feet Pose

What It Looks Like: Pressing the bottoms of your feet together and opening your knees as you bring your heels in toward your chest.

When You Do It: When your phone is on the other end of the couch and you use your feet to grab it without sitting up.

Benefits: Toning leg muscles, core strength, being able to respond promptly to texts without disturbing your comfy pillow situation.

Getting the attention of that cute bartender is an exercise? Sold. (Image via iStock)

8. "Notice Me, I'm Thirsty" Pose

What It Looks Like: Moving your shoulders from side to side and bobbing your neck up and down.

When You Do It: At a crowded bar, trying to make eye contact with the bartender.

Benefits: Tension release in the shoulders, improved neck flexibility, beer.

9. "I Always Stand Like This" Pose

What It Looks Like: Crossing one arm tightly over your chest and breathing deeply.

When You Do It: Answering the door for the UPS guy on Saturday morning when you're not wearing a bra.