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Yoga Body Balance — Session 1

This 25-minute beginner workout focuses on yoga balance and strength 25 min. Led by StarFit, it targets spine, shoulders, hips with evidence-based exercises designed for women of all fitness levels.

Exercise Breakdown

17 exercises in Session 1

Warm-up1 exercise
59s
5:01
Wrist Warm-up on All Fours

Turning our hands to face our knees to warm up our wrists.

wristsforearms
low
Strength2 exercises
3m 8s
11:21
Chair Pose with Pulses

Squeezing my thighs together, sitting down even more, wrapping the biceps in.

quadsglutesinner thighsshoulders
high
16:21
Boat Pose (Navasana) with Core Pulses

Take it down three-quarters of the way... inhale here, exhale, lift.

corehip flexorsinner thighs
high
Cool-down2 exercises
2m 33s
23:40
Supine Spinal Twist

Take your left leg across your body. Extend the left arm out.

lower backspinehips
low
25:01
Seated Neck Circles and Closing

Drop the chin down to the chest, and move your neck around in a full circle.

neckshouldersspine
low
breathing1 exercise
1m 30s
0:30
Seated Meditation and Breathing

Cross your legs, turn your palms up, relax the shoulders, and we close our eyes.

full bodyspineshoulders
low
yoga11 exercises
15m
2:01
Seated Overhead Stretch and Spinal Rounding

Round through the spine, curl through the spine, reach the arms forward.

spinearmsshoulders
low
2:41
Seated Side Stretch and Neck Release

Right hand to the shoulder, left hand pulls the neck down and away.

neckshouldersspine
low
3:41
Seated Twist with Pelvic Lift

Keep pushing the pelvis forward, keep reaching back. Engage the core.

spinehipscoreshoulders
medium
6:01
Cat-Cow with Organic Movement

Scoop the chest, let's look up. On your exhale, round through the spine.

spineneckcore
low
7:31
Downward Facing Dog

Make sure your hands are spread apart, tuck the toes, engage your core, lift your hips up.

hamstringscalvesshouldersarms
medium
8:31
Sun Salutation / Vinyasa Flow

Shift the body weight forward, elbows in.

full bodycorearmsspine
medium
12:31
Lunge Twist and Quad Stretch

See if you can lift your back foot. Maybe hold the back foot and push the hips down.

quadship flexorsshouldersspine
medium
14:21
Lizard Pose Variation

Every time we exhale, we drop our hip out to the side, and we pull the knee in.

hipsinner thighsouter thighs
medium
15:31
Malasana (Yogi Squat)

Lengthen your chest. Feel grounded through the feet.

hipsanklesspinepelvic floor
medium
18:21
Shoulder Stand and Plow Pose

Legs touch the back, and then we'll hold.

neckspineshoulderscore
high
21:20
Malasana with Bind

Let your left hand push the left knee out. Stretch up towards the sky.

shoulderschesthips
medium

Muscles Targeted

Primary

spineshoulderships

Secondary

coreneckarms

Equipment & Modifications

Equipment Needed

  • mat

Don't Have Equipment?

You can substitute with:

thick towelcarpet

Available Modifications

  • lower down onto the forearm
  • add a circle
  • add anything that feels good
  • slight bend in your knees
  • jump or step back
  • lower the back knee down
  • lower down onto the forearms
  • slight movement side to side
  • extend your legs up
  • hands are supporting the lower back
  • bend your knees in towards the head

Coaching Highlights from Mish Naidoo

Make sure your hands are spread apart, tuck the toes, engage your core, lift your hips up.

Form

As you move back, there'll be a slight bend in the elbows.

Safety

Take a few pulses into the chair, just to activate our legs.

Motivation

I believe movement should feel good first and challenge you second. When I design a stretch sequence, I'm thinking about the woman who's been hunched over her laptop for eight hours, the one whose shoulders live somewhere near her ears. We start gentle. We earn the deeper stretches.

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 painbalancecardiovascularchronic paincore strengthfatigueflexibilityhip paininsomniajoint painneck painpelvic floorposturesciaticashoulder painstressweight gain

Frequently Asked Questions

What muscles does this yoga workout target?

The primary focus here is spine, shoulders, hips. You will also feel work in your core, neck — I designed these 17 movements across 25 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. Great for anyone interested in yoga poses names. Great for anyone interested in yoga for lower back pain.

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.

Is this workout suitable for beginners?

Yes. Absolutely. No prior experience needed. 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 25 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. Some days that flies by. Some days minute 20 feels like an hour. Both are normal.

Are there modifications available for this workout?

Yes. Modifications are cued throughout. Examples: lower down onto the forearm; add a circle; add anything that feels good — 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: Yoga Body Balance