Yoga with your dad can be a wonderful bonding experience that promotes physical health and relaxation. Here's a simple yoga routine you can try together:
Begin in a seated position, cross-legged on your yoga mats or a comfortable surface. Sit up tall, close your eyes, and take a few deep breaths together, inhaling and exhaling slowly.
Start with gentle warm-up stretches. Reach your arms overhead and lengthen your spine, then slowly twist to one side, placing your hand on your knee or thigh. Hold the twist for a few breaths, then repeat on the other side.
Move into Cat-Cow pose. Come onto your hands and knees, aligning your wrists beneath your shoulders and your knees beneath your hips. Inhale, arch your back, and lift your chest forward (Cow pose). Exhale, round your spine, and tuck your chin to your chest (Cat pose). Repeat this flow for a few rounds, synchronizing your breath with the movements.
Transition into Downward Facing Dog. From the hands and knees position, tuck your toes under and lift your hips up, coming into an inverted V shape. Press your palms into the ground and extend your spine, relaxing your heels towards the floor. Hold for a few breaths.
Move into Warrior II. From Downward Dog, step one foot forward between your hands. Turn your back foot out slightly and align your front heel with the arch of your back foot. Open your arms parallel to the floor and gaze over your front fingertips. Hold for several breaths, then repeat on the other side.
Transition to Tree pose. Stand tall with your feet together. Shift your weight onto one foot and place the sole of the other foot on your inner thigh or calf, avoiding the knee. Bring your hands to your heart center or extend them overhead. Hold the pose, finding your balance, and then switch sides.
Finish with Corpse pose (Savasana). Lie down on your mats, allowing your body to relax completely. Close your eyes and focus on your breath, letting go of any tension or stress. Stay in this position for a few minutes, enjoying the peacefulness.
The most important aspect of practicing yoga with your dad is to have fun, support each other, and enjoy the time spent together. Modify the poses as needed to accommodate any physical limitations or challenges you both may have.