Simple poses to keep you balanced and grounded as the year comes to a close

My gift to you: a simple yoga sequence you can do on your couch.

The holidays can get us out of our movement routines and leave us feeling a little kinked up and out of sorts. Take a moment to refresh your body and mind with these simple postures.

Start seated on the floor with your right side next to the couch. Bend your right knee and place your right foot on the floor on the outside of your left knee. Twist towards the couch. Hold for 5-10 long slow breaths and repeat on the left side.
Extend your right leg out to the right and place the sole of the foot on the couch. Bend the opposite leg and bring the heel towards your pelvis. Take your arms to shoulder height and side bend to the right placing your right hand on the couch, lifting your left arm up. Plant your left sitting bone into the floor and lift up through the left side of the body, extending the spine. Stay for 5-10 breaths and repeat on the left side.
Face the seat of the couch and separate your legs into a wide V shape. Place the soles of the feet on the couch. Tilting from the pelvis, lean forward and stack your forearms on the seat of the couch to make a pillow for your forehead. Stay for 5-10 breaths.
Place your hands on the couch a little wider than shoulder width apart and slightly turned out. Walk your feet back so your wrists, shoulders and hips are all in line with each other and you feel some length in the spine. Tip your sitting bones up as you relax your heels down and back. Draw your bottom ribs in. Press through the palms to lift up out of the shoulders. Stay for 5-10 long slow breaths.
Grab a pillow off the couch and place in on the seat of the couch. Sit on your shins 6-8 inches away from the couch. Lean back on your pillow and clasp opposite elbows, allowing your arms to relax down and back. Stay for 5-10 breaths.
Face the couch and stack your right ankle over your left knee, your right knee over your left ankle, creating a triangle with your legs, your two shins parallel to the couch. Most of us will have a gap between the bottom ankle and top knee. Feel free to grab a pillow to fill in the gap. Tilting from the pelvis, lean forward. Make a pillow for your forehead with your forearms. Stay for 5-10 breaths and repeat on the second side.
For a less intense version of the previous pose, try the supine version. Lay on your back, a little bit away from the couch. Place your feet on the edge of the couch. Place your right ankle on top of your left knee, making sure that your pelvis stays grounded. If your tailbone wants to curl off the floor, give yourself a little more room and scoot away from the couch a few inches. Stay for 5-10 breaths and switch to the other side.
Take your pillow and set it on the seat of the couch. Lay on your back on the floor with your lower legs resting on the pillow. Close your eyes, settle into your breath. Stay for 5 minutes or longer if you can!