Beach yoga to boost your bliss and health

By Dana Santas, Special to CNN

Updated 1406 GMT (2206 HKT) July 9, 2015

<strong>Easy seated pose:</strong> Sit cross-legged, facing the ocean. Rest your hands on your legs. Practice yoga's jnana mudra, a symbolic hand gesture of wisdom, by touching your thumb and index finger together. Breathe deeply for five or more breaths, taking in all aspects of your surroundings with your five senses.<br /><br />Click through the gallery for more yoga poses by the sea: <br />
Photos: Relaxing by the waves with yoga
Easy seated pose: Sit cross-legged, facing the ocean. Rest your hands on your legs. Practice yoga's jnana mudra, a symbolic hand gesture of wisdom, by touching your thumb and index finger together. Breathe deeply for five or more breaths, taking in all aspects of your surroundings with your five senses.

Click through the gallery for more yoga poses by the sea:
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<strong>Easy seated twist:</strong> From easy seated pose, place your right hand on your left leg. Inhale as you lengthen your spine. Exhale as you rotate from your mid-back to look over your left shoulder and place your left hand down behind you. Take a breath or two. Repeat on the other side.<br />
Photos: Relaxing by the waves with yoga
Easy seated twist: From easy seated pose, place your right hand on your left leg. Inhale as you lengthen your spine. Exhale as you rotate from your mid-back to look over your left shoulder and place your left hand down behind you. Take a breath or two. Repeat on the other side.
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<strong>Half lord of the fishes twist:</strong> While seated, slide your right heel back toward your left hip. Cross your left leg over your right, pressing your left foot down. Wrap your right arm around your left shin. Inhale to lengthen your spine and exhale to rotate from your mid-back and look over your left shoulder, placing your left hand behind you. Hold for a breath or two. Repeat on the other side.
Photos: Relaxing by the waves with yoga
Half lord of the fishes twist: While seated, slide your right heel back toward your left hip. Cross your left leg over your right, pressing your left foot down. Wrap your right arm around your left shin. Inhale to lengthen your spine and exhale to rotate from your mid-back and look over your left shoulder, placing your left hand behind you. Hold for a breath or two. Repeat on the other side.
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<strong>Pride pose:</strong> Stand facing the water with your feet hip distance apart. Raise both arms above your head in a triumphant "Y" position -- the same pose you'd take if you just won a race. Hold for three to five long, deep breaths.
Photos: Relaxing by the waves with yoga
Pride pose: Stand facing the water with your feet hip distance apart. Raise both arms above your head in a triumphant "Y" position -- the same pose you'd take if you just won a race. Hold for three to five long, deep breaths.
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<strong>Rag doll:</strong> From standing with your feet hip distance, exhale as you bend forward, flexing from your pelvis -- not your low back. Bend your knees as much as needed for comfort. Hold opposite elbows and hang inverted for two or three breaths.
Photos: Relaxing by the waves with yoga
Rag doll: From standing with your feet hip distance, exhale as you bend forward, flexing from your pelvis -- not your low back. Bend your knees as much as needed for comfort. Hold opposite elbows and hang inverted for two or three breaths.
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<strong>Standing straddle twist:</strong> Standing with feet as wide apart as you can while still feeling stable, bend forward to place your right hand on the ground in front of you. Reach your left arm forward and then rotate from your shoulder, ribcage and mid-back to reach skyward. Keep your hips and low back level while trying to align your shoulders vertically. Hold for two or three breaths. Repeat on the other side.
Photos: Relaxing by the waves with yoga
Standing straddle twist: Standing with feet as wide apart as you can while still feeling stable, bend forward to place your right hand on the ground in front of you. Reach your left arm forward and then rotate from your shoulder, ribcage and mid-back to reach skyward. Keep your hips and low back level while trying to align your shoulders vertically. Hold for two or three breaths. Repeat on the other side.
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<strong>Warrior two:</strong> Step your right leg back into a lunge position. Drop your right heel and turn your toes out to 90 degrees. Bend your left knee above your ankle while keeping your back leg straight. Align your shoulders above your hips as you reach your right arm back and left arm forward with your palms down. Look past your front hand and take three long, deep breaths. Repeat on the other side.
Photos: Relaxing by the waves with yoga
Warrior two: Step your right leg back into a lunge position. Drop your right heel and turn your toes out to 90 degrees. Bend your left knee above your ankle while keeping your back leg straight. Align your shoulders above your hips as you reach your right arm back and left arm forward with your palms down. Look past your front hand and take three long, deep breaths. Repeat on the other side.
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<strong>Reverse warrior:</strong> From warrior two, with your left foot forward, inhale as you reach your left arm up and back, extending from your back and side-waist muscles, while your right arm slides down your right leg. Maintain alignment of forward knee above your ankle. Take five long, deep breaths. Repeat on the other side.
Photos: Relaxing by the waves with yoga
Reverse warrior: From warrior two, with your left foot forward, inhale as you reach your left arm up and back, extending from your back and side-waist muscles, while your right arm slides down your right leg. Maintain alignment of forward knee above your ankle. Take five long, deep breaths. Repeat on the other side.
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