
(Photo: Yoga With Kassandra)
The hardest thing that I experienced when I started yoga was I felt like I had no upper body strength whatsoever. I’ve learned that if you want stronger shoulders, you need to work at it. And after years of practicing and teaching, I’ve found what I consider to be three essential shoulder-strengthening exercises you can practice at home.
What’s especially helpful about these is that you can incorporate them into your existing yoga practice or gym workout. They also bring a surprise factor in that they’re not things that you might normally think to try on your mat. Even better, it’s not an entire 30-minute strength conditioning workout. It’s simple drills you can rely on every single day to strengthen your shoulders.
If you practice these regularly, I guarantee you will see and feel results. The next time you’re on your mat, certain poses and transitions that used to challenge you will feel easier.
Remember to always stretch after practicing these shoulder-strengthening exercises.

Come into Forearm Plank. Shift yourself forward and tap your nose toward the ground and then come back to Forearm Plank. Try to do this 10 times. Keep your core strong and engaged. You’re going to feel the burn!

Come into Dolphin Pose. Rock yourself forward and tap just the top of your forehead in between your hands and then come back to Dolphin Pose. Try to do this 10 times.

Start in Downward-Facing Dog with a slightly wider stance than usual. Then lower down onto your forearms and come into Dolphin Pose. Then shift back to Downward-Facing Dog. Try to do this 10 times.
Thanks for trying and practicing these shoulder-strengthening exercises at home!