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Hip Stretch
Strike a Yoga Pose: Arching Low Lunge
My hip flexors are one area of my body that could always use some extra attention. Here's a lunge variation, similar to Warrior 1, but with your back knee resting on the floor, you can really increase the stretch for the muscles on the front part of your back thigh. Arching your spine backward also offers a great stretch for the abs and shoulders; not to mention it strengthens your core and increases flexibility in your spine.
Yoga Video: Stretch Those Hips and Hamstrings
Need to open up and stretch those tight hips and hamstrings? Not only is this a wonderful sequence to start out with before moving onto deeper poses like backbends, but it's also a great way to warm up before or after a run, hike, or bike ride.
Music: "Om Namo Narayana" by Deva Premal
By the way, I'm wearing the Simplicity Pants made by be present.
Strike a Yoga Pose: Pigeon
Everyone can benefit from opening their hips - whether you are a runner, biker, a mom-to-be, or someone who sits at their desk all day - stretching out your hips can help prevent lower back pain, or knee or hamstring injuries.
Our hips tend to be really tight because our everyday activities require hip strength, but not hip flexibility. Not only does it feel good physically to stretch them out, but it is said that people hold a lot of stress and tension in their hips, so it is emotionally opening as well.
Strike a Yoga Pose: Camel
After hunching forward blogging all day my body craves backbends. Luckily for me, Camel pose is a staple in a yoga practice. Do this pose regularly to increase flexibility in your lower back, shoulders, and hip flexors but to also strengthen your quads and abs.
Challenge 6
After starting back to work a couple of weeks ago and ending my maternity leave, it has been more difficult to keep up exercise routine. I've been trying to do a little during the day, even if it's walking up the stairs, stretching in the afternoon, or taking a quick walk around the block. I did an Active Wii routine yesterday and I could definitely tell I've been out of practice for the past couple of weeks, but it felt great.Fitness Journal
This week and next week, I'm starting of slow. I'm not in the greatest shape, but I'll get there. Feb.
Strike a Yoga Pose: Bound Extended Side Angle
Although yoga poses vary between different types of yoga, Extended Side Angle is a basic standing posture you'll see in most any class you take. This pose strengthens your legs, and makes you feel bold, yet relaxed. We've already tried the variation of this pose known as Twisting Extended Side Angle, so here's another variation you can try.
Resistance Is Fruitful
This Christmas I was excited about all the fitness-related gifts I received, especially a new resistance band kit. It's been raining a lot lately, and as a result I haven't been able to ride my bike to the gym as much as I'd like. It's a bummer, but using my resistance bands at home has kept me from going nuts.
Strike a Yoga Pose: Foot to Hand
What's not to love about a forward bend? These poses feel so good after a run to lengthen the lower back and hamstrings — just the tight places that need a good stretch. If you liked the variation of the pose known as Big Toe Standing Forward Bend, since you hold your toes to pull yourself more deeply into the pose, then you're going to love this variation for the deeper stretch it provides while simultaneously giving your wrists a sweet release.
Class Act: Vajra Yoga
The yoga studio where I teach just started offering Vajra yoga classes, so I decided to try something new and took a class last week. The only thing I knew before heading into the studio was that this was a more meditative kind of yoga. Since the class began at noon, it was small: only four other students.
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