I love stretches that you can feel over your entire body, and while this is mostly a move you'll feel in your chest and shoulders, you'll also feel this in your hamstrings and lower back. It's a great one to add to your stretching repertoire.
To learn how to do this stretch read more.
- Begin standing with your feet hips distance apart. Engage your abs by drawing your navel towards your spine.
- Bring your arms behind you and interlace your fingers right below your sacrum, thats the back of your pelvis.
Doing deep stretching before a run isn't a great idea because you're not totally warmed up and could end up
tearing a muscle. In lieu of this I like to do a little light stretching, just to wake up my muscles before a long workout.
Here's a gentle stretch to try that I'm sure you've done a million times, but if you do it while tying your sneaks, it's a great way to kill two birds with one stone. Stand with your feet three-feet apart.
We're up to the second pose in the
Standing Hand to Big Toe series. In
Standing Hand to Big Toe A, your leg is straight out in front of you, giving you an amazing hamstring stretch. This next one, B, has your lifted leg out to the side, so it feels amazing in your hips.
Sanskrit name: Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana B
English translation: Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose B
Also called: Standing Hand to Big Toe B
To give it a try just read more.
- Stand with your big toes touching.
Many yoga poses
stretch out your hips and hamstrings, so after a while, you can use the flexibility you achieve to do more difficult poses. This one stretches the backs of both legs, while challenging your sense of balance at the same time.
Sanskrit name: Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana A
English translation: Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose A
Also called: Standing Hand to Big Toe A
To give it a try read more.
- Stand with your big toes touching. Put all your weight into your left foot, and lift your right foot up.
When you're new to yoga, balancing poses offer an excellent challenge. On your first attempt you may end up falling over, but once you learn to focus your
drishti (your gaze), you'll be able to balance on one leg for a long, long time – or at least five breaths. The Dancer pose stretches your shoulders and chest, increases flexibility in your hips and spine, and is also an amazing hamstring stretch for your standing leg.
Sanskrit Name: Natarajasana
English Translation: Lord of the Dance Pose
Also Called: Dancer Pose
Want to know how to get into this pose and stay balanced.
