"Quick 5-Minute Yoga Warm-Up for Neglected Joints"

"4 Simple Yoga Warm-Up Exercises for Your Joints" Perform these exercises slowly, repeating each one eight times. Remember to take slow, deep breaths throughout.

1. Knees

Sit on a folded blanket with your legs extended straight in front of you in Staff Pose (Dandasana). Bend your left knee and bring it toward your chest, clasping your hands behind your thigh.

Move your lower leg in large circles, straightening it at the top of each circle if comfortable. Repeat on the other side.

2. Elbows and Shoulders

Sit cross-legged and place your fingertips on your shoulders. Lift your elbows up towards your ears, then circle them forward and try to touch your elbows in front of your chest.

Continue to circle your elbows down along your sides and back up to shoulder height. Repeat this motion and then reverse the direction.

3. Ankles

Sit in Staff Pose on a folded blanket with your legs straight in front of you. Rotate your feet at the ankles together, making several clockwise circles followed by counterclockwise circles.

Next, separate your legs about a block's width apart and rotate your feet in opposite directions. Bring your big toes to touch when they move towards each other, then circle them away from each other. Finish by flexing and pointing both feet several times.

4. Wrists

Extend your arms straight out at shoulder height. Bend your hands back at the wrists as if pressing your palms against a wall, with your fingers pointing up.

Then bend your hands forward at the wrists, curling your fingers toward the undersides of your forearms. Finally, make fists with your hands and rotate your wrists in clockwise circles, then switch to counterclockwise.