Skip to main content

Morning Yoga Flow — Workout 6

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

Exercise Breakdown

17 exercises in Workout 6

Warm-up1 exercise
59s
3:41
Tabletop Figure-Eight Circles

Begin to draw a figure of eight or a number eight around your body.

wristshipsshoulders
low
Strength1 exercise
1m 9s
6:01
Bird-Dog Crunches (Knee to Nose)

Inhale, curl through the spine, draw the right knee in.

coreglutesspine
medium
Flexibility5 exercises
5m 30s
1:46
Standing Side Stretch and Neck Release

Gently move your neck over so we feel a good stretch from your ears to the shoulders.

neckshouldersspineouter thighs
low
2:41
Standing Forward Fold with Shoulder Opener

Pull the right shoulder towards your right knee as we look up towards the left side.

hamstringsshouldersupper back
medium
4:41
Forearm and Wrist Stretch

Gently push the body weight forward to stretch out your forearms.

wristsforearms
low
7:11
Gate Pose Variation (Inner Thigh Rocking)

Send your right leg out to the side... exhale, move back.

inner thighships
medium
10:11
Lizard Lunge with Quad Stretch

Try to lift the back foot and pull this leg in... such a good quad stretch.

hipsquadship flexors
medium
Balance2 exercises
1m 38s
1:06
Mountain Pose with Heel Raises

Rise up onto the toes, onto the balls of the feet.

calvesanklescore
low
12:21
Half Moon Pose (Ardha Chandrasana) with Bind

The more you squeeze your glutes... the more stability you have.

full bodygluteshamstringscore
high
Cool-down1 exercise
1m
18:40
Supine Spinal Twist

Lower both legs over to the right side, look towards the left hand.

spinelower backhips
low
breathing1 exercise
55s
0:10
Tadasana (Mountain Pose) with Breathing

Feeling grounded, rooted through the feet.

full bodyspineshoulders
low
yoga6 exercises
4m 45s
5:21
Cat-Cow Flow

Inhale to lift the heart, open your chest, look up.

spinenecklower back
low
8:41
Three-Legged Dog to Knee Tucks

Inhale, draw your knee into your chest, shift the body weight forward.

corearmsshouldershamstrings
medium
9:41
Wild Thing

Step your right foot outside your body, lift your hips up to the sky.

full bodychestspineshoulders
medium
11:41
Warrior II and Reverse Triangle

Turn the back foot ninety degrees, reach up to your warrior two.

quadsshouldersspine
medium
13:21
Vinyasa Flow (Chaturanga to Upward Dog)

Jump or step back to plank... wrap the elbows in.

armschestspinecore
medium
17:00
Bridge or Wheel Pose

Squeeze the shoulder blades underneath you, squeeze the glutes.

spinegluteschestshoulders
high

Muscles Targeted

Primary

spineshoulderscore

Secondary

hipsfull bodyhamstrings

Equipment & Modifications

Equipment Needed

  • mat

Don't Have Equipment?

You can substitute with:

thick towelcarpet

Available Modifications

  • Stay on palms if forearms are too uncomfortable
  • Use blocks underneath hands for assistance
  • Use a block under the bottom hand
  • Keep hand on hip for stability
  • Stay in Bridge pose for a gentler option
  • Take full Wheel pose for a deeper backbend

Coaching Highlights from Mish Naidoo

Gently move your neck over so we feel a good stretch from your ears to the shoulders.

Form

Always adding some movement before we hold statically... it prevents injury.

Safety

Ease our way down to the forearms, and just breathing through it.

Modification

Slow down every inhale and the exhales.

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 painbalancebone densitycore strengthfatigueflexibilityhip paininsomniajoint painneck painposturesciaticashoulder painstress

Frequently Asked Questions

What muscles does this yoga workout target?

The primary focus here is spine, shoulders, core. You will also feel work in your hips, full body — I designed these 17 movements across 20 minutes so each body area gets attention without rushing through transitions. The sequencing follows a natural flow that lets your body warm into deeper ranges gradually. Perfect for yoga poses for beginners. Many women use this as part of their core strengthening exercises routine.

What equipment do I need for this workout?

You'll want mat. Don't have one? A thick towel, carpet works fine — I've taught this sequence with improvised props more times than I can count. The movement matters more than the equipment. Great for anyone interested in yoga poses names.

Is this workout suitable for beginners?

Yes — I built this for women who are either starting fresh or coming back after a break. Every exercise includes form cues, and there are modifications throughout. Here is what I tell new students: if something feels wrong — sharp pain, dizziness, strain in your neck — back off. Yoga should challenge you, not punish you.

How long is this workout?

About 20 minutes, start to finish. That includes warm-up and cool-down — I never skip those, and neither should you. The main work covers 17 movements. It is short enough to fit into a lunch break but structured enough to make a real difference.

Are there modifications available for this workout?

Yes. Modifications are cued throughout. Examples: Stay on palms if forearms are too uncomfortable; Use blocks underneath hands for assistance; Use a block under the bottom hand — I've been teaching long enough to know that the 'full expression' of a pose isn't the goal. The goal is finding the version that challenges YOUR body without breaking it. Use every modification offered. That's not weakness — that's intelligence.

Do I need yoga experience for this class?

Yes — I built this for women who are either starting fresh or coming back after a break. Every exercise includes form cues, and there are modifications throughout. Here is what I tell new students: if something feels wrong — sharp pain, dizziness, strain in your neck — back off. Yoga should challenge you, not punish you.

How often should I do this yoga workout?

Two to three times per week is the sweet spot for most women. Daily is fine too if your body responds well — yoga is forgiving that way — I've seen better results from consistent shorter sessions than from one heroic weekend marathon. Pair it with a different movement style on alternate days — a walk, some light strength work, even just stretching at your desk.

Can yoga help with Pelvic Floor?

There is clinical evidence supporting yoga for Pelvic Floor. The mechanism: pelvic floor strengthening — I want to be honest though — movement is one piece. It's powerful, but it works best alongside sleep, nutrition, and stress management. If Pelvic Floor is significantly impacting your quality of life, talk to a specialist. This workout can be part of your plan, not your entire plan.

Why is breathing so important in yoga?

Breathing is not decoration. In yoga, your breath literally determines how deep you can go into a movement and how your nervous system responds. Exhale on effort, inhale on release — that's the basic pattern. But here is what most instructors don't say: if you can't breathe smoothly in a position, you've gone too far. Your breath is your honest feedback system. The diaphragmatic breathing in this session activates your parasympathetic nervous system — the 'rest and digest' mode that most women in their 30s and 40s desperately need more of. This session is particularly effective as a yoga for stress relief option.

Related Workouts & Topics

About the Trainer

Mish Naidoo

Mish Naidoo

Yoga Trainer

From: Morning Yoga Flow