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The Healthiest Thing You'll Do On Vacation

Y7 Yoga Breaks Down 6 Poolside Moves

Fitness
The Healthiest Thing You'll Do On Vacation

In case you were on some sort of social media detox, we (along with 100 of your closest friends and Calvin Klein) were at a little desert music festival called Coachella recently. And while our trip consisted of less stage hopping and more set hopping, we still had a red eye flight and hours-long car ride through the valley to warrant a bit of stress relief. So we were more than happy when we met up with Sarah Levey, co-founder of Y7 Yoga and just all-around super nice human, on our first morning out there. While most festival-goers were hanging by the hotel bar, three Bloody Marys deep, Levey was breaking down her best boat pose and lunge twist (more on that later) for us poolside.

The best part? You can do the sequence basically anywhere, with or without a mat, making it one of the most low-maintenance workouts ever. “There’s lots of twisting in this quick strengthening and detoxifying sequence. Twisting the torso applies pressure to your internal organs, toning them and increasing their abilities to detoxify your body! After twisting, your torso and digestive organs are flushed with oxygen-rich blood, which helps to remove toxins while improving digestion,” Levey explains.

Let’s just say, it’s the only thing we can imagine doing on our next vacation (and after every flight). So whether you’re festival hopping this summer (or just planning your own personal staycation) this detoxing routine is one you’ll want—nay, need—in your life.

 



 

Move #1

Wide Legged Forward Fold

This move is great because it relieves headache and fatigue. Start with your feet wide apart, and make sure they’re parallel. While resting your hands on your hips (or stretched out to shoulder height) begin to lean your torso forward from the hip joints, releasing your head with your hands down toward the ground.

 


 

MOve #2
Lunge Twist

Start in a low lunge with your right foot forward between your hands, bending your front knee to 90 degrees and making sure your knee is directly over the heel of your front foot. Your back leg should be straight with your heel off the ground and your feet hip-width apart. Place your left hand on the floor directly under your shoulder and exhale as you twist to the right. Keep your hips square as you reach your right arm toward the ceiling. Repeat on the opposite side.

 


 

MOve #3

Twisted Chair Pose

Stand with your feet together with your big toes touching. Inhale and raise your arms above your head, fingertips toward the sky. Exhale as you bend your knees, bringing your thighs as close parallel to the floor as they can get, coming into chair pose. Lower your arms and bring your palms together in prayer position at your chest. Exhaling, twist your torso to the right and bring your left elbow to the outside of your right thigh. Repeat on the opposite side.

 


 

Move #4

Chair Pose

This pose strengthens the lower body while stretching the upper back and invigorating and energizing the whole body. Keep feet together with your heels and toes touching. Reach the hips down and back, bringing your weight to the heels of the feet. Make sure to keep your chest lifted and your tailbone pointed toward the ground. As a transitional pose, inhale as you sit lower and slowly draw the sit bones all the way down to the ground.

 


 

Move #5

Boat Pose

From a seated position, exhale and slowly lean back at your hips, lifting your legs with bent knees (or straighten your legs if you’re able to). Stretch your arms alongside your legs, parallel to each other and the floor. Spread your shoulder blades across your back and reach strongly out through your fingers. This pose stimulates kidneys and thyroid and improves digestion.

 


 

Move #6

Seated Spinal Twist

Bring your legs out long in front of you. Bend your right knee up towards the chest, planting the right foot on the ground next to your left thigh. Exhale, and rotate your torso to the right and wrap your left arm around the right thigh. Hold your outer thigh with your left hand, then pull your thigh up as you release the right hip toward the floor. Press your right fingertips onto the floor just behind your pelvis to lift your torso slightly up and forward. Repeat on the opposite side.

 

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