beginner program
Three 30-minute beginner sessions progress from grounding mobility to a modest middle-session peak, then return to a recovery pace. Each practice includes a clear warm-up, a sustained main sequence, and a restful finish.
Practice in Daymat
Session 1
Begin with simple seated grounding, continue through symmetrical hip mobility and forward folding, then settle into a long supine finish.
From a seat for Seated. Keep the sit bones heavy. Keep the torso upright and long. Express sit bones grounded in this shape. Organize upright easy seat in this shape. Refine Seated only within a pain-free range. When ready, ease out and return to a neutral base.
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.
Sit down for Easy Twist. Ground through both sit bones. Twist without collapsing the waist. Maintain crossed legs in this shape. Express twist in this shape. Refine Easy Twist only within a pain-free range. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
Sit down for Easy Twist. Ground through both sit bones. Twist without collapsing the waist. Maintain crossed legs in this shape. Express twist in this shape. Refine Easy Twist only within a pain-free range. 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.
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.
Begin seated for Shoelace. Settle onto the sit bones. Lengthen the spine upward. Express stacked knees in this shape. Use the breath to steady Shoelace without strain. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Begin seated for Shoelace. Settle onto the sit bones. Lengthen the spine upward. Express stacked knees in this shape. Use the breath to steady Shoelace without strain. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
From a seat for Fire Log. Keep the sit bones heavy. Keep the torso upright and long. Clarify stacked shins in this shape. Prefer clarity over depth in Fire Log. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
From a seat for Fire Log. Keep the sit bones heavy. Keep the torso upright and long. Clarify stacked shins in this shape. Prefer clarity over depth in Fire Log. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
From a seat for Shoelace with Eagle Arms. Keep the sit bones heavy. Keep the torso upright and long. Maintain eagle arms in this shape. Express eagle wrap in this shape. Organize stacked knees in this shape. Use the breath to steady Arms without strain. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
From a seat for Shoelace with Eagle Arms. Keep the sit bones heavy. Keep the torso upright and long. Maintain eagle arms in this shape. Express eagle wrap in this shape. Organize stacked knees in this shape. Use the breath to steady Arms without strain. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
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.
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 your back for Supine Bound Angle. Let the spine settle onto the floor. Keep the torso soft and reclined. Organize bind in this shape. Prefer clarity over depth in Supine Bound Angle. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Lie on your back for Constructive Rest. Rest the whole back on the mat. Stay reclined and easy. Maintain full body rest in this shape. Prefer clarity over depth in Constructive Rest. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Lie on your back for Corpse. Rest the whole back on the mat. Stay reclined and easy. Establish full body rest in this shape. Use the breath to steady Corpse without strain. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
Session 2
Build gently from seated mobility into one optional challenge, then return through familiar forward folding to quiet rest.
Begin seated for Thunderbolt. Settle onto the sit bones. Lengthen the spine upward. Clarify thunderbolt in this shape. Prefer clarity over depth in Thunderbolt. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
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.
Sit down for Easy Twist. Ground through both sit bones. Twist without collapsing the waist. Maintain crossed legs in this shape. Express twist in this shape. Refine Easy Twist only within a pain-free range. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
Sit down for Easy Twist. Ground through both sit bones. Twist without collapsing the waist. Maintain crossed legs in this shape. Express twist in this shape. Refine Easy Twist only within a pain-free range. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
Sit down for Archer's. Ground through both sit bones. Extend the front body with control. Clarify backbend in this shape. Maintain hold the ankles in this shape. Refine Archer's only within a pain-free range. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Sit down for Archer's. Ground through both sit bones. Extend the front body with control. Clarify backbend in this shape. Maintain hold the ankles in this shape. Refine Archer's only within a pain-free range. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
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.
From a seat for Fire Log. Keep the sit bones heavy. Keep the torso upright and long. Clarify stacked shins in this shape. Prefer clarity over depth in Fire Log. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
From a seat for Fire Log. Keep the sit bones heavy. Keep the torso upright and long. Clarify stacked shins in this shape. Prefer clarity over depth in Fire Log. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Begin seated for Shoelace. Settle onto the sit bones. Lengthen the spine upward. Express stacked knees in this shape. Use the breath to steady Shoelace without strain. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Begin seated for Shoelace. Settle onto the sit bones. Lengthen the spine upward. Express stacked knees in this shape. Use the breath to steady Shoelace without strain. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
From a seat for Shoelace with Eagle Arms. Keep the sit bones heavy. Keep the torso upright and long. Maintain eagle arms in this shape. Express eagle wrap in this shape. Organize stacked knees in this shape. Use the breath to steady Arms without strain. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
From a seat for Shoelace with Eagle Arms. Keep the sit bones heavy. Keep the torso upright and long. Maintain eagle arms in this shape. Express eagle wrap in this shape. Organize stacked knees in this shape. Use the breath to steady Arms without strain. 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.
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.
From your back for Supine Bound Angle. Let the spine settle onto the floor. Keep the torso soft and reclined. Organize bind in this shape. Prefer clarity over depth in Supine Bound Angle. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Lie on your back for Corpse. Rest the whole back on the mat. Stay reclined and easy. Establish full body rest in this shape. Use the breath to steady Corpse without strain. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
Session 3
Slow the pace with a restful prone opening, familiar seated mobility, and a simple supine close.
Lie face-down for Reverse Corpse with Arms On Sides. Keep the belly and ribs grounded. Maintain a prone torso. Express full body rest in this shape. Organize reversed orientation in this shape. Keep Reverse intentional rather than rushed. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
From your belly for Reverse Corpse. Stay prone through the front body. Keep the torso prone without forcing a lift. Express arms forward in this shape. Organize full body rest in this shape. Establish reversed orientation in this shape. Refine Reverse Corpse only within a pain-free range. When ready, ease out and return to a neutral base.
Begin seated for Seated Cat. Settle onto the sit bones. Lengthen the spine upward. Clarify rounded spine in this shape. Prefer clarity over depth in Seated Cat. 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.
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.
From a seat for Fire Log. Keep the sit bones heavy. Keep the torso upright and long. Clarify stacked shins in this shape. Prefer clarity over depth in Fire Log. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
From a seat for Fire Log. Keep the sit bones heavy. Keep the torso upright and long. Clarify stacked shins in this shape. Prefer clarity over depth in Fire Log. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Begin seated for Shoelace. Settle onto the sit bones. Lengthen the spine upward. Express stacked knees in this shape. Use the breath to steady Shoelace without strain. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Begin seated for Shoelace. Settle onto the sit bones. Lengthen the spine upward. Express stacked knees in this shape. Use the breath to steady Shoelace without strain. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
From a seat for Shoelace with Eagle Arms. Keep the sit bones heavy. Keep the torso upright and long. Maintain eagle arms in this shape. Express eagle wrap in this shape. Organize stacked knees in this shape. Use the breath to steady Arms without strain. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
From a seat for Shoelace with Eagle Arms. Keep the sit bones heavy. Keep the torso upright and long. Maintain eagle arms in this shape. Express eagle wrap in this shape. Organize stacked knees in this shape. Use the breath to steady Arms without strain. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
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.
From your back for Supine Bound Angle. Let the spine settle onto the floor. Keep the torso soft and reclined. Organize bind in this shape. Prefer clarity over depth in Supine Bound Angle. Keep the gaze soft, then step or sit out with care.
Lie on your back for Corpse. Rest the whole back on the mat. Stay reclined and easy. Establish full body rest in this shape. Use the breath to steady Corpse without strain. Take one more breath, then exit without collapsing.
