Just because you don't have time to make it to your regular workout class, or fit in a long run, that doesn't mean it's not worth exercising. A little bit of movement is better than none and it will probably leave you feeling better than before you started.
Yoga is a great form of exercise to do in short bursts, especially because the deliberate breathing can relax your body in minutes.
Adriene Mishler, better known to her 13 million YouTube subscribers as Yoga With Adriene, recently shared a yoga practice that takes just 15 minutes. According to Mishler, it will energize your body and reset your mind.
I've been doing yoga for 10 years and while I tend to do hour-long classes at studios, I've also tried plenty of Mishler's routines over the years and can see why she features in Fit&Well's list of the best yoga YouTube channels.
I'm always impressed by how good Mishler's routines can make me feel in my own living room, often in a short space of time, so I was keen to try her latest practice.
How to do Yoga With Adriene's 15-minute yoga practice
This is a follow-along routine so just press play and Mishler will guide you through it.
You don't need any equipment to do this routine although it is worth using a yoga mat to make your experience more comfortable. I use the Yogi Bare mat, which is super soft even after lots of use and I never feel like I'm sliding around on it, even when I'm sweating in downward dog.
My experience trying Yoga With Adriene's 15-minute yoga routine
This yoga practice is mainly made up of sun salutations, a sequence of traditional poses including forward fold (below), downward dog (above) and plank.
Moving through sun salutations is one of my favourite ways to practice yoga. It gets your heart rate up if you flow quickly through the poses and it engages muscles all over the body, so it's a great way to move.
I also find sun salutations very meditative, because my mind can focus on the flow and I'm able to forget about any stress or anxiety.
Mishler offers a few fun twists on the traditional sun salutation too, which help to mobilize the hip joints, so I'd recommend this routine to anyone who is dealing with stiffness in their hips.
There's also some time at the beginning and end of the routine to sit in stillness. It might not feel worth it if you are only practicing for 15 minutes, but taking the time to allow your body to destress is really worthwhile. I find it helps me return to my day feeling more refreshed, so try not to skip these parts of the practice.
I'll be coming back to this video as a quick way to get moving in the morning or take a break from my desk.
