Happy New Year!! When it comes to working out, those of us with busy travel schedules need something we can take with us!! One thing that always works for me, and especially when I travel, is yoga. All you need is a little space and you can practice it anywhere in the world.  

I've just returned from an amazing adventure traveling all over Thailand and Cambodia. Needless to say, I found some of the most amazing places to practice yoga and I wanted to share them with you!! I'll also include the pose benefits.  

You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram for more photos of the trip @loririscher, and remember health and fitness is not a choice, it's a lifestyle. Here's to a great and healthy 2013!!

Boat pose, aka Navasana, on the beach in Phuket, Thailand
Benefits:
  • strengthens core
  • spine and hip flexors
  • stimulates kidney and thyroid function
  • digestion
  • relieves stress
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Backbend, aka Urdhva Danurasana, on a stand up paddle board in Thailand.  Trying to balance was very tricky. Thanks to Tim Campbell at http://www.skylaphuket.com for the lesson and great afternoon on the water.

Benefits:

  • Stretches the chest and lungs
  • Strengthens the arms and wrists, legs, buttocks, abdomen and spine
  • Stimulates the thyroid and pituitary glands
  • Increases energy, and counteracts depression
  • Therapeutic for asthma, back pain, infertility and osteoporosis
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Firefly, aka Titthibasana, at Angkor Wat, Cambodia.  One of my favorite places in the world!!

Benefits:

  • Stretches the inner groin and back torso
  • Strengthens the arms and wrists
  • Tones the belly
  • Improves sense of balance
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Tree pose, aka Vrksasana, at Ta Prohm Temple, Cambodia, where the trees are literally eating the temple.  It's where they filmed Tomb Raiders!!

Benefits:

  • Strengthens thighs, calves, ankles and spine
  • Stretches the groin and inner thighs, chest and shoulders
  • Improves sense of balance
  • Relieves sciatica and reduces flat feet
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Moon pose, aka Chandrasana, in front of the Reclining Buddha in Bangkok, Thailand.  

Benefits:

  • *Helps stretch the lower back, abdomen and chest.
  • *Makes the rib cage supple and flexible. 
  • *Massages, loosens and strengthens the waist, and brings balance in the body posture.
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Side plank pose, aka Vashistasana, on the beach where they filmed The Beach: Maya Bay, Thailand

Benefits:

  • Strengthens the arms, belly and legs
  • Stretches and strengthens the wrists
  • Stretches the backs of the legs (in the full version as seen in the photo below)
  • Improves sense of balance