Weekly Yoga Plan for Beginners
Day 1: Foundation of Yoga – Introduction to Basic Poses
Morning Session: 30 Minutes
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Mountain Pose (Tadasana)
- Stand tall with your feet together; engage your thighs and lift your chest.
- Hold for 5 breaths to establish your presence and intention for the week.
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Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)
- From all-fours, lift your hips up and back.
- Keep your hands shoulder-width apart and feet hip-width.
- Hold for 5 breaths.
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Child’s Pose (Balasana)
- Kneel and lower your torso to your thighs, stretching your arms forward.
- Hold for 5 breaths, focusing on relaxation.
Evening Session: 30 Minutes
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Cat-Cow Stretch (Marjaryasana-Bitilasana)
- Cycle between arching your back and rounding it while on all fours; repeat for 5 breaths.
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Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana)
- Sit with your legs extended, hinge at the hips to reach toward your feet.
- Hold for 5 breaths, feeling a gentle stretch in your back.
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Corpse Pose (Savasana)
- Lie flat on your back, arms at your sides, and breathe deeply for 10 minutes.
Day 2: Focus on Breath – Pranayama Practice
Morning Session: 30 Minutes
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Deep Breathing
- Sit comfortably; inhale deeply through the nose, and exhale through the mouth.
- Repeat for 10 rounds to calm your mind.
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Ujjayi Breathing
- Inhale and exhale softly through the nose, creating a gentle constriction at the back of the throat.
- Practice for 5 minutes to enhance concentration.
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Alternate Nostril Breathing (Nadi Shodhana)
- Close one nostril, inhale through the open one, then switch.
- Practice for 5 minutes to balance energy.
Evening Session: 30 Minutes
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Gentle Flow
- Combine poses like Downward Dog, Cobra, and Forward Bend, flowing with your breath.
- Practice for 15 minutes.
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Guided Meditation
- Spend 15 minutes focusing on your breath, allowing thoughts to come and go.
Day 3: Building Flexibility – Introduction to Standing Poses
Morning Session: 30 Minutes
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Warrior I (Virabhadrasana I)
- Step one foot back; bend the front knee.
- Hold for 5 breaths, focusing on your strength.
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Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II)
- Open your arms and gaze over your front hand; sink deeper.
- Hold for 5 breaths.
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Triangle Pose (Trikonasana)
- Straighten your legs, reach forward, and angle your torso downwards.
- Hold for 5 breaths on each side.
Evening Session: 30 Minutes
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Extended Side Angle (Utthita Parsvakonasana)
- With one arm reaching over your head, maintain alignment.
- Hold for 5 breaths on each side.
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Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana)
- Let your head hang heavy; relax your neck.
- Hold for 5 breaths.
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Savasana
- Relax in Savasana for 10 minutes, integrating your practice.
Day 4: Core Strength – Engaging Your Core Muscles
Morning Session: 30 Minutes
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Plank Pose
- Hold a strong plank for 5 breaths; engage your core and keep your body straight.
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Side Plank (Vasisthasana)
- Rotate to one side and stack your feet; hold for 5 breaths on each side.
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Boat Pose (Navasana)
- Sit, lift your legs, and lean back; hold for 5 breaths.
Evening Session: 30 Minutes
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Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana)
- Lie on your back; lift your hips up and interlace fingers underneath.
- Hold for 5 breaths.
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Locust Pose (Salabhasana)
- Lie on your stomach, lift your legs and arms simultaneously.
- Hold for 5 breaths.
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Savasana
- Conclude your day with 10 minutes of Savasana.
Day 5: Restorative Yoga – Soothe Your Body and Mind
Morning Session: 30 Minutes
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Supported Child’s Pose
- Use props to support your torso; relax for 5 minutes.
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Reclining Bound Angle Pose (Supta Baddha Konasana)
- Lie back with the soles of your feet together; hold for 5 minutes.
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Reclining Twist
- With knees bent, drop them to one side, then the other.
- Hold for 3 breaths each side.
Evening Session: 30 Minutes
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Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose (Viparita Karani)
- Rest your legs against the wall; stay for 5 minutes.
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Supported Fish Pose (Matsyasana)
- Use a bolster; stretch open your chest and breathe deeply for 5 minutes.
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Savasana
- Spend at least 10 minutes in Savasana, allowing relaxation.
Day 6: Gentle Flow – Combining Techniques
Morning Session: 30 Minutes
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Sun Salutations (Surya Namaskar)
- Practice 5 rounds at your own pace to energize the body.
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Warrior Flow
- Move through Warrior I to Warrior II, then to Triangle Pose.
- Repeat 3 times, holding each pose for 3 breaths.
Evening Session: 30 Minutes
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Easy Pose (Sukhasana)
- Meditate in Easy Pose; focus on your breath for 10 minutes.
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Gentle Twists
- Sit cross-legged and gently twist side to side for 5 minutes.
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Savasana
- Conclude with 10 minutes of Savasana.
Day 7: Reflection and Rest
Morning Session: 30 Minutes
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Intention Setting
- Sit quietly; reflect on your week and set intentions for the upcoming week.
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Gentle Flow
- Integrate your favorite poses from the week in a gentle sequence for 15 minutes.
Evening Session: 30 Minutes
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Restorative Poses
- Mix supported Child’s Pose, Bound Angle Pose, and Forward Bend.
- Hold each for 5 minutes.
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Gratitude Meditation
- End with 10 minutes of gratitude meditation, focusing on your breath.
By following this week-long yoga plan, beginners can cultivate awareness, flexibility, and strength while establishing a consistent practice. Each session is designed to build confidence and deepen the understanding of foundational concepts in yoga. Embrace each day’s practice with an open heart.