Beginner Yoga Poses to Get Fit for 2022

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Me doing Tree Pose. I have to try and get my right foot a little higher on my left leg.
Me doing Tree Pose. I have to try and get my right foot a little higher on my left leg.

I used to practice yoga casually by attending classes at the Y, as well as classes offered by the Toronto District School Board. The classes featured basic Hatha yoga poses, which I found challenging enough. Having been a runner for most of my life, I enjoyed the calm and relaxed atmosphere of the yoga class. I have to admit that it was difficult at first to adapt to the slower pace of yoga (vs. adrenaline-inducing running), but I soon came to look forward to the classes.

Then menopause hit and created hormonal imbalances that resulted in a significant weight gain. I stopped doing yoga since I found the poses too awkward and strenuous. In the past year, I was able to lose 40 pounds on the Keto diet. I am thrilled to have more energy, to be able to fit into my smaller-sized clothes and to just look and feel better. One of the items on my 2022 resolutions and goals list is to start practicing yoga again! Now since we are still in the pandemic, yoga classes are available only online at the moment. I decided to start off small by consulting a yoga book I bought several years ago (The Book of Yoga by Christina Brown) and choosing poses that I thought would be good for someone starting yoga again. You might also want to watch Yoga with Adriene on YouTube. She is the most popular yoga teacher on the channel!

Below are the beginner yoga poses I chose because I thought they would be easy. As you will see, my poses need a lot of work and correction lol:

Downward Facing Dog is one of the most popular beginner yoga poses. I should have not pointed my foot when attempting Downward Facing Dog.
I should have not pointed my foot when attempting Downward Facing Dog Raised Leg Variation.



Downward Facing Dog – Raised Leg Variation

The Downward Facing Dog with Raised Leg Variation pose opens up the quads, lengthens the spine and creates space for improved organ function.

My Downward Facing Dog with Raised Leg Variation was okay, but I shouldn’t have pointed my foot; it should have been flexed.

My Revolved Triangle Pose is a disaster lol.
My Revolved Triangle Pose is a disaster lol.

Revolved Triangle Pose

I really botched this one up. My left leg should not have been bent! Also, my left hand should have been in front of my left foot, not behind it.

Me attempting the Half Bound Lotus Forward Fold pose.
Me attempting the Half Bound Lotus Forward Fold pose.

Half Bound Lotus Forward Fold

The Half Bound Lotus Forward Fold pose strengthens and helps open the hips, and strengthens the hamstrings, shoulders and upper back.

I think I did this pose as best as I could.


Me doing Tree Pose. I have to try and get my right foot a little higher on my left leg.
Me doing Tree Pose. I have to try and get my right foot a little higher on my left leg.

Tree Pose

Tree pose strengthens the ligaments and tendons in your feet and strengthens your core. It also improves your balance as the pose requires good posture and equal weight distribution. As an added bonus, Tree Pose tones the abs!

I am happy with my Tree Pose, but I need to work on raising my foot higher on my left thigh. I should be able to do this once I improve my balance.

Well, I obviously have to work on my beginner yoga poses, but I am happy I started doing yoga early in the new year. Do you practice yoga? What is one of your resolutions for 2022? Please let me know in the comment section.

22 COMMENTS

  1. Way to go, Lori! I had no idea that the Tree Pose strengthens your corse. I need that. I watched Yoga with Adrienne. She’s really good. I’m not very flexible at all so even trying “simple” poses were a challenge for me.

  2. You got me :). I’m gonna try these today. Thank you for sharing your healthier lifestyle and yoga tips. I have also noticed the Keto diet and immediately jumped onto the next article you posted. I’m a big Keto fan, hoping for some results too 🙂

  3. I enjoy yoga as well. I think it mixes very nicely with running because I am a runner too, it helps me a lot in training, my running group also suggests yoga. You show good basic poses from Hatha I also enjoy (especially after a long run)

    • Hi Lyosha, I was also a runner for many years. Now, I’m just walking. But I agree that yoga and running are complementary sports since one focuses on breathing, stretching and toning and the other one focuses on cardio! Cheers, Lori

  4. Interesting! Hatha yoga is normally basic, but anyone can struggle with some of the poses especially as a beginner. I enjoy breathing yoga and meditation as well.

  5. For me the good thing is all the poses you demonstrated are easy enough to do. Although I’m hoping that I don’t fall when I try the tree pose.

    • Hi Melanie, Oh yes…I definitely started with the easiest poses! I have a bit of trouble balancing when doing the tree pose so I had to have someone take the photo really quickly lol. Cheers, Lori

  6. I always wanted to try yoga but haven’t gotten the chance. Seems this is the sign to work things out and have fun!

  7. This is timely! I am trying to have a healthier lifestyle and I plan to start with yoga. Thank you for sharing this poses. Very helpful for beginners like me.

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