5 times you really need yoga, and the number one pose for each situation

There are a ka-billion times that a person needs some yoga, but I thought I'd start with 5 common ones and the pose needed to make it all better.

1. The car ride.  Whether it's a long drive, a commute to work, or a bunch of short to medium drives shuttling kids to and from, many of us spend lots of time in the car.  So at the next stop, get out.  You need pyramid pose.  Close the door and stand next to the car.
Step one foot back a moderate amount, feet hip distance apart is fine.
Back heel down, and toes turned in slightly.
Press the back hip forward, front hip back, hands on hips.
Inhale your spine tall and keeping both legs mostly straight, hinge out over the front leg.
Go slow and don't worry about going far. Enjoy the stretch to the back of the front leg.
Breathe 5 long deep breaths (or count to 20).
Come up, step the back foot forward and do it all again.  Then back in the car you go.

pyramid pose

2. Before getting out of bed. Anyone out there have a bit of occasional back pain? This is a pretty easy cure to feeling pretty good as you start your day.  So you're awake, turn off the alarm and stay under the covers.  If your hot, push them off first.  Start your day with knee to chest pose.
Laying on your back, pull one of your knees in towards your chest.
Hold onto the knee or behind the thigh, whichever feels best.
Breathe thoes 5 long deep breaths or count to 20.
Gently release the leg and stretch the leg back out.
Pull the other knee in, breathe again.
If you've got the time, then pull both knees in at the same time.
After the 5 breaths, roll gently to your side, sit up and get out of bed. Let the day begin.

knee to chest pose

3. Stressed out. It happens to the best of us. Too much, too little of life.  But carry on we must. We need to breathe.
Sit or stand up tall.
Roll your shoulders back and down.
Inhale through your nose (mouth is ok if the nose isn't working properly).
Think the words as you do the action ("I inhale").
Exhale through the nose slowly.
Think the words as you do the action ("I exhale" if you need extra good mojo, think "I exhale, I smile").
Go with that magic number of 5 breaths if you can, but one really careful breath can be pretty helpful/healthful all by it's self. Carry on.

breathing pose

4. You ate too much. What ever the reason, it doesn't matter.  We won't go into the details, let's just get ourselves settled down. A gentle head tilt is needed.
Sit or stand up tall.
Roll the shoulders back and down (sounds like the beginning of number three, yes? It's really a great way to start almost every pose).
Gently lean your right ear towards your right shoulder.
Maybe close your eyes.
Breathe, 3-5 breaths should do it.
Gently bring the head back to center.
Do the same on the second side. Step away from the food, it will be alright.

head tilt pose

5. Too much sitting at the desk/table--usually computer related. A standing forward fold is just the pose for this situation.
Stand up.
Face the desk or chair.
Put your hands evenly upon it.
Keeping your hands there, walk your body away from it.
You'll start to hinge at the hips.
Only go as far as you can keep your back pretty straight.
Head between the upper arms.
Legs mostly straight.
Breathe the 5 long deep breaths.
Walk yourself back up to standing. If you must, sit back down and get to work, repeat every hour or so.

standing forward fold

So there it is, 5 times we really need yoga and the number one pose to make us feel good. Hope this helps. Let me know what worked/works for you.  The ordinary yogi closing down and getting ready to do number 5.