Alternate Nostril Breathing Calm yourself—any week of the month—with this simple brain-balancing breathing exercise.

  1. Sit in a comfortable cross-legged seated position. 2. Close off your right nostril with your thumb and inhale slowly and evenly through your left nostril. 3. Close off the left one using your index or any other finger, pause a moment, then open your right nostril by lifting your thumb, and exhale—slowly and fully—through that side. 4. Inhale through your right nostril, then close it and exhale through the left side. Repeat 20 times or for 3 minutes. Bow Pose Combat cramps and upset stomach with this backbend, which gets the spinal fluid moving and relieves compression in the vertebrae.
  2. Lie face down, arms at your side and chin on the floor. 2. Reach back and grab hold of your outer ankles. 3. Inhale, pressing your hip bones down into the floor and kicking your legs back and up. This will pull your arms back and lift your chest. 4. Keep your head in line with your spine (i.e., don’t arch your neck) and hug your knees toward each other (meaning try not to let them splay out to the sides). Hold for 3 to 6 breaths, then release and return to the starting position. For best results, practice this pose once a day. Media Platforms Design TeamNEW fromPrevention!Sculpt a strong, sexy core with Flat Belly Yoga DVD!