Written By: Danielle Collins | Published : August 20, 2015, 5:50 PM
1/8
Not a gym person but want to build muscle? Worry not, yoga can do that for you. World leading yoga expert Danielle Collins suggests trying these 7 yoga poses that add lean muscle to your body while also toning it.
2/8
Standing moving twist (to build strength and tone sides of the waist and stomach): Stand with legs wide apart, toes slightly turned out and your arms out to the side. As you inhale, rotate the body and tap opposite hand on the opposite leg. Exhale as you come back up. Then do the same on the other side. Keep this going for at least 6 more rounds.
3/8
Warrior 2 (to tone and build strength in arms and legs): Standing with legs wide apart, bring arms out to the side, keep hips pointing forward and turn out one foot and bend the knee on that leg. Look towards the hand on the side of bent knee. Hold for six breaths. Repeat on the other side.
4/8
Boat pose (to lift and tone the hips, legs and arms): Lie on your tummy with arms by the sides, touching outer edge of the legs. As you inhale lift the head, neck and chest up off the floor and as you exhale, lower back down. To advance, hold the pose, squeeze your legs together, engage the buttocks and lift legs up off the floor. Hold for four breaths.
5/8
Cobbler balance (to build core strength): Sitting down, bring soles of the feet together as close towards the body as you can and grab hold of the toes. If you want to come a little further, you can lift the feet up off the floor and hold for at least four breaths.
6/8
Side lunge (to tone the inner and outer thighs and build leg strength): Come to one side of the mat. Take a wide step out with one leg as you inhale. Exhale, bend both knees and try to touch the floor with both hands. Inhale, come back to starting position. Repeat at least 15 times. Walk to the other side of the mat and repeat the pose at least 15 times this side.
7/8
Scissors (to tone the inner thighs): Lying on your back, raise the legs up to the sky and open and close the legs with deep breaths. Do 10 rounds or more.
8/8
Yoga squat (to lift buttocks): With legs wide apart and toes turned out slightly, reach upwards with palms together and arms out. As you exhale, squat down, keep the back straight and bring arms to chest height. Repeat 15 more times.
