I love doing movements with breath in class. It forces people to breath deeply which ensures that even the breathing resisters will feel great by the end of class. And it encourages awareness - you’re finding your edge with every breath so your mind can’t easily wander. I also like it because once I’ve given the instruction everyone does it on their own to the rhythm of their own breath. I figure at best this helps build their own sense of self-direction in their yoga practive and at the very least ensures they won’t have to listen to me yack non-stop for the class.

Here are 4 active poses that I like:

Core. Building core strength is so important and I like to do integrative work that builds awareness of our core. Go into sphinx and then with an exhale use your core strength to bring your hips off the ground, bringing your torso and hips into one long line. Exhale back down, gently press your chest forward. Work the details when you lift your hips - tuck your tail, focus on engaging your whole core, keep your shoulder blades rpessed down your back throughout.

Core with a Twist. Lay on your back, arms in a T position and bend knees so they’re over your hips. Take a deep inhale and as you exhale drop knees to one side but stop a few inches above the floor. Hold until exhale is complete, then use those core muscles to inhale them back up. Repeat, going back and forth a few times. Don’t let your knees drop to your chest, keep then at right angles. The last time, relax knees to the floor, turn to look in the opposite direction and hold the twist for a few breaths. Change sides.

Lunge with Breath. There are two options - sink into a high lunge with arms up (Warrior 1 style) on the inhale, and then straighten the front leg and lower arms to the side with an exhale. Repeat. For a less strenuous version use a shorter stride and bend both front and back leg, using the same arm motion. In this version, your front knee shouldn’t go ahead of your ankle, but your back knee can drop as far as you like so that you come up on your toes. If you feel any knee discomfort do less and avoid it.

Chair to Forward Bend with a side of Back Bend. This is actually a flow of poses that mixes back bends and forward bends together, it’s insta-bliss. Exhale into Chair, inhale up to standing keeping arms up. To add a back bend here, press your chest forward and lift your gaze. Then exhale and swan dive slowly into Forward Bend. Inhale and roll back up sweeping arms wide (back bend here too if you like). Then on the next exhale sink back into Chair. Repeat. Try to make your breaths as long as you can with slow measured movements.