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This 20-minute beginner workout focuses on yoga for hips. Led by Mish Naidoo, it targets spine, shoulders, hips with evidence-based exercises designed for women of all fitness levels.

Exercise Breakdown

21 exercises in Workout 2

Cool-down1 exercise
56s
19:21
Knee Circles and Final Seated Breath

Draw a small circle around the base of the spine, massaging this area out.

lower backspinefull body
low
breathing1 exercise
1m 5s
0:00
Seated Centering and Breathing

Lengthen through the spine, roll the shoulders back, close your eyes.

spineshouldersneck
low
yoga19 exercises
17m 56s
1:06
Seated Overhead Reach and Spinal Curls

Interlace the palms, and push your palms up to the sky.

spinearmsshoulders
low
1:51
Seated Side Stretch and Neck Release

Gazing underneath the left arm.

spineneckshoulders
low
2:46
Neck Rolls and Seated Cat-Cow

Inhale, roll the shoulders back, lift the chest, look up.

neckspineshoulders
low
3:36
Chin-to-Chest Elbow Touches

Elbows touch, we push the chin all the way up, stretch through the neck.

neckspineshoulders
low
4:21
Downward Facing Dog

Palms spread out wide, look between the legs, legs hip distance apart.

full bodyhamstringsshoulderscalves
medium
5:11
Upward Dog Variation with Neck Twist

Wave your body forward, soft bend through the elbows, move the hips to your wrist.

spinehipsneckchest
medium
5:46
Forward Fold with Spinal Twist

Bend your left knee, straighten your right leg, and reach your right arm up.

hamstringsspineshoulders
medium
7:01
Bound Forward Fold with Shoulder Dips

Bringing the right shoulder to the right knee, looking up to the left.

hamstringsshouldersspine
medium
7:51
Standing Side Flow

Left palm down, reach your right arm over.

spinehipsshoulders
low
8:51
Chair Pose

Sit into chair pose, reach the arms up, arms close to the biceps.

quadsglutescoreshoulders
medium
9:26
Lizard Lunge with Quad Stretch (Right Side)

Walk your hands to the inside of the right foot, and move your right foot out.

hipsquadship flexorsshoulders
medium
11:11
Half Splits (Right Side)

Flex your foot and move the foot side to side.

hamstringscalvesspine
medium
12:01
Lunge with Thoracic Twist (Right Side)

Right arm comes into the left... expand and open.

spineshoulderships
medium
12:41
Lizard Lunge with Quad Stretch (Left Side)

Squeezing every muscle in the back leg, we rock forward and back.

hipsquadship flexorsshoulders
medium
14:41
Half Splits (Left Side)

Pull the toes up towards the face and move the foot side to side.

hamstringscalvesspine
medium
15:31
Lunge with Thoracic Twist (Left Side)

Match the breath to the movements.

spineshoulderships
medium
16:16
Child's Pose to Cobra Flow

Curl through the spine, move forward... bend your elbows and come down.

spineshoulderslower back
low
17:01
Bow Pose (Dhanurasana) Variation

Think of rolling or grabbing onto the ankles.

upper backlower backchestquads
medium
17:56
Supine Spinal Twists

Guiding the left leg across, looking towards the left palm.

spinehipslower back
low

Muscles Targeted

Primary

spineshoulderships

Secondary

neckhamstringsquads

Equipment & Modifications

Equipment Needed

  • mat

Don't Have Equipment?

You can substitute with:

thick towelcarpet

Available Modifications

  • Bring the forearm down for a deeper stretch
  • Walk your legs out (pedal the feet)
  • Pulling the toes up for a deeper stretch
  • Elevate the back leg for a deeper quad stretch
  • Use cushions or blocks to place your hands on
  • Elevate the back leg
  • Use blocks for hand support
  • Point the toes or flex the feet

Coaching Highlights from Mish Naidoo

Wave your body forward, soft bend through the elbows, move the hips to your wrist.

Form

If you cannot straighten the legs, have cushions or blocks to place your hands on.

Modification

This allows us to open up as much as we can from looking at laptops or phones.

Motivation

I've spent years refining these sequences specifically for women navigating their 30s and 40s. The body changes. The approach should change with it — I focus on what actually works — not what looks impressive on camera.

Form

Health Benefits

Women navigating Pelvic Floor, anxiety will find this session particularly relevant. The focus on spine and shoulders addresses the specific tension patterns and movement deficits that often accompany these conditions. No prior experience needed — every movement has a modification.

Relevant For

anxietyback painbalancecore strengthfatigueflexibilityhamstringship painneck painposturesciaticashoulder painstress

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Workouts & Topics

About the Trainer

Mish Naidoo

Mish Naidoo

Yoga Trainer

From: Morning Yoga Flow