Power Move: Bridge (Setu Bhandasana)

A basic back bend that opens your chest and strengthens your back. This pose also increases the flexibility of your spine and stretches your neck, abdomen and thighs, energizing your body.

Make sure your weight is resting equally on your shoulders and feet. Relax your shoulders away from your ears, but be careful not to overstretch your neck. As you hold the pose, focus on breathing and lengthening your spine as you arch your body like a bridge. If you want to deepen the pose, you can move your shoulder blades toward each other. Then interlace your fingers and gently stretch your arms and hands toward your feet.

Tracy Reading is a certified yoga teacher at the Harris Y and dad to Ali, currently attending Louisiana State University.