beginner program
Seven short sessions alternate foundational standing work, balanced side practice, controlled arm support, and seated recovery. The cycle rises gradually to a single peak session before closing with a lighter integration day.
Practice in Daymat
Session 1
A simple upright sequence establishes posture, steady effort, and a calm finish.
Stand tall with the feet parallel and the inner ankles drawing toward each other. Join the palms in prayer hands in front of the sternum and lift through the crown without hardening the shoulders. Keep the weight shared through heels and the balls of the feet. Relax the arms by the sides if the hands need a rest.
Begin standing for Mountain. Share weight through both feet. Lengthen the spine upward. Clarify airplane arms in this shape. Maintain feet parallel in this shape. Refine Mountain only within a pain-free range. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Stand in Extended Mountain with the feet parallel and the arms reaching overhead. Spread the fingers, soften the shoulders away from the ears, and lengthen through the side body. Keep the ribs stacked over the pelvis without flaring. Lower the arms and return to a quiet Mountain stance to exit Keep arms raised clear throughout.
Begin standing for Mountain with Feet Apart. Share weight through both feet. Lengthen the spine upward. Clarify feet parallel in this shape. Keep Mountain intentional rather than rushed. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Stand tall for Upward Salute. Root evenly through both feet. Stack the ribs over the pelvis. Establish feet parallel in this shape. Keep Upward intentional rather than rushed. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Settle onto the sit bones with the legs crossed and the spine stacked upright. Rest the hands on the thighs, let the knees settle without forcing them, and keep the crown of the head lifting. Switch which shin is in front if the hips feel uneven.
Session 2
Balanced side work develops lower-body endurance before a brief seated close.
Begin standing for Mountain with Feet Apart. Share weight through both feet. Lengthen the spine upward. Clarify feet parallel in this shape. Keep Mountain intentional rather than rushed. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Begin standing for Goddess. Share weight through both feet. Lengthen the spine upward. Maintain wide squat in this shape. Refine Goddess only within a pain-free range. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
Begin standing for Goddess. Share weight through both feet. Lengthen the spine upward. Maintain wide squat in this shape. Refine Goddess only within a pain-free range. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
Stand tall for Goddess with Arms Up. Root evenly through both feet. Stack the ribs over the pelvis. Organize arms raised in this shape. Establish wide squat in this shape. Use the breath to steady Up without strain. When ready, ease out and return to a neutral base.
Stand tall for Goddess with Arms Up. Root evenly through both feet. Stack the ribs over the pelvis. Organize arms raised in this shape. Establish wide squat in this shape. Use the breath to steady Up without strain. When ready, ease out and return to a neutral base.
From standing for Goddess with Cactus Arms. Stand with even foot pressure. Keep the torso upright and long. Express cactus arms in this shape. Organize wide squat in this shape. Keep Goddess intentional rather than rushed. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
From standing for Goddess with Cactus Arms. Stand with even foot pressure. Keep the torso upright and long. Express cactus arms in this shape. Organize wide squat in this shape. Keep Goddess intentional rather than rushed. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
Stand tall for Upward Salute. Root evenly through both feet. Stack the ribs over the pelvis. Establish feet parallel in this shape. Keep Upward intentional rather than rushed. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Sit down for Bound Angle. Ground through both sit bones. Stack the ribs over the pelvis. Express bind in this shape. Organize soles of the feet together in this shape. Refine Bound Angle only within a pain-free range. When ready, ease out and return to a neutral base.
Session 3
Familiar standing work leads to one optional challenge and a quiet seated finish.
Stand tall with the feet parallel and the inner ankles drawing toward each other. Join the palms in prayer hands in front of the sternum and lift through the crown without hardening the shoulders. Keep the weight shared through heels and the balls of the feet. Relax the arms by the sides if the hands need a rest.
Begin standing for Goddess. Share weight through both feet. Lengthen the spine upward. Maintain wide squat in this shape. Refine Goddess only within a pain-free range. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
Begin standing for Goddess. Share weight through both feet. Lengthen the spine upward. Maintain wide squat in this shape. Refine Goddess only within a pain-free range. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
Lower the back knee for Kneeling Lunge with Prayer Hands. Stack the front knee above the ankle and bring the palms together at the heart. Lengthen the spine before any twist or fold, and keep the hips squared forward. Soften the hands down and step forward to leave Keep crescent lunge clear throughout.
Lower the back knee for Kneeling Lunge with Prayer Hands. Stack the front knee above the ankle and bring the palms together at the heart. Lengthen the spine before any twist or fold, and keep the hips squared forward. Soften the hands down and step forward to leave Keep crescent lunge clear throughout.
Begin standing for Crescent Lunge with Prayer Hands. Share weight through both feet. Lengthen the spine upward. Clarify crescent lunge in this shape. Maintain prayer hands in this shape. Prefer clarity over depth in Crescent Lunge with Prayer Hands. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Begin standing for Crescent Lunge with Prayer Hands. Share weight through both feet. Lengthen the spine upward. Clarify crescent lunge in this shape. Maintain prayer hands in this shape. Prefer clarity over depth in Crescent Lunge with Prayer Hands. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Stand tall for Upward Salute. Root evenly through both feet. Stack the ribs over the pelvis. Establish feet parallel in this shape. Keep Upward intentional rather than rushed. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Settle onto the sit bones with the legs crossed and the spine stacked upright. Rest the hands on the thighs, let the knees settle without forcing them, and keep the crown of the head lifting. Switch which shin is in front if the hips feel uneven.
Session 4
A fully seated recovery practice lowers demand while maintaining gentle active engagement.
Sit down for Bound Angle. Ground through both sit bones. Stack the ribs over the pelvis. Express bind in this shape. Organize soles of the feet together in this shape. Refine Bound Angle only within a pain-free range. When ready, ease out and return to a neutral base.
From a seat for Rock the Baby. Keep the sit bones heavy. Keep the torso upright and long. Organize cradled leg in this shape. Keep Rock intentional rather than rushed. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
From a seat for Rock the Baby. Keep the sit bones heavy. Keep the torso upright and long. Organize cradled leg in this shape. Keep Rock intentional rather than rushed. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
Sit down for Staff. Ground through both sit bones. Stack the ribs over the pelvis. Maintain legs extended forward in this shape. Refine Staff only within a pain-free range. When ready, ease out and return to a neutral base.
Begin seated for Easy Forward Bend. Settle onto the sit bones. Lengthen the spine upward. Maintain crossed legs in this shape. Use the breath to steady Bend without strain. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Session 5
Controlled support work returns after recovery, followed by a smooth seated release.
From an arm-supported base for Box. Keep every contact point honest. Hold a firm midsection between the supports. Maintain hands and knees in this shape. Refine Box only within a pain-free range. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
Plant the hands for Kneeling with Prayer Hands. Share load across the contact points. Brace lightly through the core. Express backbend in this shape. Organize kneeling backbend in this shape. Establish partial setup in this shape. Clarify prayer hands in this shape. Keep Kneeling intentional rather than rushed. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
From an arm-supported base for Crooked Monkey. Keep every contact point honest. Hold a firm midsection between the supports. Express hip opening split in this shape. Prefer clarity over depth in Crooked Monkey. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
From an arm-supported base for Crooked Monkey. Keep every contact point honest. Hold a firm midsection between the supports. Express hip opening split in this shape. Prefer clarity over depth in Crooked Monkey. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
Sit down for Bound Angle. Ground through both sit bones. Stack the ribs over the pelvis. Express bind in this shape. Organize soles of the feet together in this shape. Refine Bound Angle only within a pain-free range. When ready, ease out and return to a neutral base.
Sit down for Staff. Ground through both sit bones. Stack the ribs over the pelvis. Maintain legs extended forward in this shape. Refine Staff only within a pain-free range. When ready, ease out and return to a neutral base.
Begin seated for Easy Forward Bend. Settle onto the sit bones. Lengthen the spine upward. Maintain crossed legs in this shape. Use the breath to steady Bend without strain. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Session 6
The peak session combines twisting support, one optional challenge, one high-demand shape, and seated settling.
Plant the hands for Box with Arm Extension. Share load across the contact points. Brace lightly through the core. Maintain hands and knees in this shape. Express twist in this shape. Refine Box with Arm Extension only within a pain-free range. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Plant the hands for Box with Arm Extension. Share load across the contact points. Brace lightly through the core. Maintain hands and knees in this shape. Express twist in this shape. Refine Box with Arm Extension only within a pain-free range. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
From an arm-supported base for Crooked Monkey. Keep every contact point honest. Hold a firm midsection between the supports. Express hip opening split in this shape. Prefer clarity over depth in Crooked Monkey. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
From an arm-supported base for Crooked Monkey. Keep every contact point honest. Hold a firm midsection between the supports. Express hip opening split in this shape. Prefer clarity over depth in Crooked Monkey. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
From an arm-supported base for Downward-Facing Dog with Hamstring Stretch. Keep every contact point honest. Keep the torso organized while inverted. Express alternating bent knee in this shape. Organize inverted v shape in this shape. Use the breath to steady Stretch without strain. Protect the neck and come down if balance fades. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
From an arm-supported base for Downward-Facing Dog with Hamstring Stretch. Keep every contact point honest. Keep the torso organized while inverted. Express alternating bent knee in this shape. Organize inverted v shape in this shape. Use the breath to steady Stretch without strain. Protect the neck and come down if balance fades. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
Sit down for Bound Angle. Ground through both sit bones. Stack the ribs over the pelvis. Express bind in this shape. Organize soles of the feet together in this shape. Refine Bound Angle only within a pain-free range. When ready, ease out and return to a neutral base.
Sit down for Staff. Ground through both sit bones. Stack the ribs over the pelvis. Maintain legs extended forward in this shape. Refine Staff only within a pain-free range. When ready, ease out and return to a neutral base.
Begin seated for Easy Forward Bend. Settle onto the sit bones. Lengthen the spine upward. Maintain crossed legs in this shape. Use the breath to steady Bend without strain. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Session 7
Familiar upright patterns consolidate the week before a calm seated close.
Stand tall with the feet parallel and the inner ankles drawing toward each other. Join the palms in prayer hands in front of the sternum and lift through the crown without hardening the shoulders. Keep the weight shared through heels and the balls of the feet. Relax the arms by the sides if the hands need a rest.
From standing for Mountain with Prayer Hands. Stand with even foot pressure. Keep the torso upright and long. Express feet parallel in this shape. Organize prayer hands in this shape. Prefer clarity over depth in Mountain with Prayer Hands. When ready, ease out and return to a neutral base.
Stand tall for Star with Hands Interlaced. Root evenly through both feet. Stack the ribs over the pelvis. Maintain star with hands interlaced in this shape. Express interlaced in this shape. Organize star in this shape. Use the breath to steady Interlaced without strain. When ready, ease out and return to a neutral base.
Stand tall for Star with Hands Interlaced. Root evenly through both feet. Stack the ribs over the pelvis. Maintain star with hands interlaced in this shape. Express interlaced in this shape. Organize star in this shape. Use the breath to steady Interlaced without strain. When ready, ease out and return to a neutral base.
Begin standing for Star with Reverse Prayer Hands. Share weight through both feet. Lengthen the spine upward. Organize prayer hands in this shape. Establish reversed orientation in this shape. Refine Star with Reverse Prayer Hands only within a pain-free range. When ready, ease out and return to a neutral base.
Begin standing for Star with Reverse Prayer Hands. Share weight through both feet. Lengthen the spine upward. Organize prayer hands in this shape. Establish reversed orientation in this shape. Refine Star with Reverse Prayer Hands only within a pain-free range. When ready, ease out and return to a neutral base.
Stand tall for Upward Salute. Root evenly through both feet. Stack the ribs over the pelvis. Establish feet parallel in this shape. Keep Upward intentional rather than rushed. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Settle onto the sit bones with the legs crossed and the spine stacked upright. Rest the hands on the thighs, let the knees settle without forcing them, and keep the crown of the head lifting. Switch which shin is in front if the hips feel uneven.
