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Yoga Body Balance — Session 9

This 25-minute beginner workout focuses on yoga balance for posture improvement. 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 9

yoga17 exercises
18m 57s
0:15
Supported Heart Opener

Extend your arms all the way up above you, interlace the hands, and take a stretch.

upper backchestshouldersspineneck
low
2:35
Cat-Cow

Taking a breath in to lift and open up your chest, taking a breath out to round through the spine.

spineupper backlower backneck
low
3:21
Puppy Dog Pose with Tricep Stretch

Bring the base of the elbows in, walk the knees back slightly, hands in prayer position.

tricepsshoulderschestupper back
low
4:31
Seated Forward Fold with Block Support

Grounding down through the sit bones.

hipslower backspine
low
6:01
Cradle the Baby (Hip Opener)

Like you're just rocking back and forwards, you're just going to open up your hip.

hipsglutes
low
6:51
Seated Spinal Twist

With every inhale, we grow taller. With every exhale, we begin to twist towards the back.

spinehipscore
low
9:00
Head-to-Knee Forward Fold (Janu Sirsasana)

Inhale to get longer, exhale slowly fold.

hamstringslower backhips
low
10:31
Side Stretch with Chest Rotation

Twist the chest up, and just take a gentle stretch across.

chestshouldersspinecore
low
13:30
Downward Facing Dog

Roll forward to a plank, bend your knees, and then glide your hips back.

full bodyhamstringsshoulderscalves
medium
14:11
Pigeon Pose with Thread the Needle

Right hand is going underneath the left... come down to the side of the face.

hipsglutesshouldersupper back
medium
17:10
Standing Forward Fold (Uttanasana)

Can you rise up onto the toes? Can you take your time to walk?

hamstringsspinelower back
low
18:00
Standing Chest Opener & Fold

Draw your right shoulder blade towards the right knee.

shoulderschesthamstrings
low
19:30
Child's Pose

Sinking the hips at the back, especially if you feel tense in your lower back.

lower backhipsspine
low
20:11
Puppy Pose (Anahatasana)

Hips over the knees, extend your arms all the way out.

shoulderschestupper backspine
medium
21:50
Supported Bridge Pose

Place it at the lower edge of the spine. Roll the shoulders back.

lower backhipschestspine
low
23:40
Shoulder Stand to Plow Pose

Hands are your support for the lower back.

neckspinecorehamstrings
high
24:55
Seated Neck Release

Interlace the hands... a gentle pull with the elbows in.

neckspineshoulders
low

Muscles Targeted

Primary

spineshoulderships

Secondary

chestlower backupper back

Equipment & Modifications

Equipment Needed

  • block

Don't Have Equipment?

You can substitute with:

thick bookfirm pillowrolled towel

Available Modifications

  • Turn block as high as the other block
  • Straighten legs out
  • Bring legs to touch
  • Knees out to the side (Butterfly legs)
  • Blocks at lowest setting
  • Blocks at higher setting
  • Block at highest setting for forehead support
  • Lower block down as you relax
  • Hands on blocks on either side
  • Hold block past the foot for deeper stretch
  • Walk the legs out
  • Twist the hips
  • Use block to rest the face
  • Soft bend through the knees
  • Keep legs straight
  • Stay on fingertips to keep arms active
  • Relax arms down
  • Forehead touches mat
  • Chin to the mat
  • Lift knees to extend (advanced)
  • Block at lower edge of spine
  • Turn block higher for more space
  • Extend legs out
  • Support lower back with hands
  • Knee to forehead

Coaching Highlights from Mish Naidoo

Taking a breath in to lift and open up your chest, taking a breath out to round through the spine.

Form

Sinking the hips at the back, especially if you feel tense in your lower back.

Safety

Let everything that's heavy in the hips and back be supported.

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 painfatigueflexibilityhip paininsomnianeck painposturesciaticashoulder painspinestress

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 chest, lower back — 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 block. Don't have one? A thick book, firm pillow, rolled towel 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 — 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 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: Turn block as high as the other block; Straighten legs out; Bring legs to touch — 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