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Exercise

Flexablity Exercise that Protects the Knees

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Most of us know that a good way to protect our knees is to strengthen the muscle above the knees with simple quad exercises. But, for added support, it’s also important to keep your hips and hamstrings flexible. Here’s a side-lying stretch that targets your hips and hamstrings.

Step 1:->

Lie on your side, legs straight, with your feet, hips and shoulder stacked. Rest your head in your hand (or place it down on your forearm with your elbow forward). Bend your left knee and place your left foot flat on the floor in front of your right knee. While maintaining your balance, use your left hand to gently press your left thigh back until your left knee points toward the ceiling. Resist rolling backward by keeping your left hip over your right hip.

Step 2 :->

Grasp the big toe of your left foot with the first two fingers of your left hand. Slowly straighten your left knee until the sole of your left foot faces the ceiling. Press up firmly through your left heel to stretch the back of your left leg. Pause for a few seconds. Relax and breathe evenly. Release your foot, bend your knee and reverse the position to do this stretch on the other side.

Practice 3 sets of the above exercise and take little rest.

CLICK &  SEE MORE  KNEE EXERCISES

Sources: Los Angele Times

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Yoga

Stretch at Your Desk Can Ease Stiff Back

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When work has you glued to your desk and you feel your back stiffening up, try this simple stretch for a few minutes. It helps loosen those tight areas and counters the effects of prolonged sitting.This is specially very good for those who are working on computers for long hours.

Step 1
——-

Push your chair away from your desk, sit on the front edge of the chair and place both feet hip-width apart. Inhale, raise your arms straight up, separating them so they are shoulder-width apart, palms facing in. On an exhale, keep your back straight and lean forward from your hips until your upper body rests on your lap. Reach your fingertips to the floor.

Step 2
——

On an inhale, twist your upper spine to your right and raise your right arm until your hand points to the ceiling. Look up toward your hand. Hold this position for three breaths. Lower your hand to the floor and repeat on the other side.

Do three sets of the above exercises and relax for two minutes. Take a deep breath and release slowly.

Sources:Los Angles Times

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Yoga

Thigh-Muscle Stretch (Yoga Exercise)

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Thigh-muscle stretch works best if body stays in alignment

It’s very easy to cheat when performing some of the more popular stretches. But without proper form, we can end up wasting our time or worse — creating undue stress on our joints. When done correctly, this is an excellent way to stretch the muscles in the front of the thigh.
Step 1:->.

Stand with both feet together, then shift your body weight over your left leg and bend your right knee. Reach your left arm in front of you, or place it directly on a sturdy surface to help you balance.

Step 2:->

Bend forward and reach down to grasp your right foot with your right hand. Be sure to hold around the arch or the shoelace area of your foot (not the toes). Stand upright and point your right knee straight toward the floor; be sure your knee does not point out to the side. For a deeper stretch, tuck your hips under your torso and pull your heel closer toward your buttocks. Release and repeat on the other leg.
Now leave your hand, come back to the straight standing position and do the same stretching of the other hips.

Try to remain in stretched position for at least 30 seconds and minimum 3 sets of the above exercise to be done at a time.

This stretching exercise is very helpful to get rid of leg fatigue and knee pain.

Sources:Los Angles Times

 

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Yoga

Preparatory Movement (Yoga Exercise)

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Yogic practices create lot of strain on different organs or parts of the body, our body should have enough strength to bear this, one should build this stamina with practice. The preparatory movements provide just the same and help you build the necessary strength and prepare the whole body for Yogasana.

Following precautions should be taken while performing these movements –
1. Movements should be without jerk or swings.
2. Movements should be slow and smooth.
3. Movements to be tuned with breathing.

Normal Breathing Principles –
1. When the physical movements is in the direction of gravitational pull, i.e. downwards, exhaling should take place.
2. During upward movement, inhaling should take place.
3. When there is no movement, normal breathing should be resumed.

Preparatory Movements preposition- 

*Stand with 1 to 1.5 feet distance between legs, hands straight and resting the palms on the sides of the thighs, look straight.

*This posture makes balancing of the body easy.

Preparatory Movement 1

 

Preparatory Movement 1 –

1. In preposition, inhaling raise both the hands above the head slowly keeping the distance same between them.

2. Then exhaling slowly start bending down in the waist till the palms touch the ground, keep the head pressed towards the knees.

3. Inhaling raise the waist and take position as in 1.

4. Exhailing bring the arms back to the normal preposition.

Preparatory Movement 2

 

Preparatory Movement 2-

1.In preposition, inhaling raise both the hands from sides, slowly bringing them at shoulder height and parallel to the ground.

2.Then exhaling slowly start bending forward in the waist, touch the thumb of right foot by your left hand, keeping the right arm straight above.

3.Inhaling take position as in 1.

4.Then exhaling slowly start bending forward in the waist, touch the thumb of left foot by your right hand keeping the left arm straight above.

5.Inhaling take position as in 1.

6.Exhaling bring the arms down to the normal preposition.

Preparatory Movement 3

 

Preparatory Movement 3-

1.In preposition, inhaling raise both the hands from sides slowly bringing them at shoulder height and parallel to the ground.

2.Then exhaling slowly start turning to the left in the waist keeping the arms and shoulder in straight line. At the same time keep knees straight and feet firmly on ground.

3.Inhaling take position as in 1.

4.Then exhaling slowly start turning to the right in the waist keeping the arms and shoulder in straight line. At the same time keep knees straight and feet firmly on ground.

5.Inhaling take position as in 1.

6.Exhaling bring the arms down to the normal preposition.

Preparatory Movement 4

 

Preparatory Movement 4 –

1.In preposition, inhaling bring both the hands on waist in such a way that fingers come to the front side and thumb to the back.

2.Then exhaling slowly start bending forwards in the waist keeping knees straight. Try to bring the head between the legs.

3.Inhaling take position as in 1.

4.Then exhaling slowly start bending backwards in the waist keeping knees straight. Try to bend as much as possible and maintain your balance.

5.Inhaling take position as in 1.

6.Exhaling bring the arms down to the initial position.

Preparatory Movement 5

 

Preparatory Movement 5 –

1.In preposition, inhaling bring both the hands on waist in such a way that fingers come to the front side and thumb to the back.

2.Then exhaling slowly start bending the head and the body in the waist to the left keeping knees straight. Pay attention to the right side which gets strain from head to ankle.

3.Inhaling take position as in 1.

4.Then exhaling slowly start bending head and body in the waist to the right, keeping knees straight. Pay attention to the left side which gets strain from head to ankle.

5.Inhaling take position as in 1.

6.Exhaling bring the arms down to the normal preposition.

Preparatory Movement 6

 

Preparatory Movement 6 –

1.In preposition, inhaling bring both the hands on waist in such a way that fingers come to the front side and thumb to the back.

2.Then exhaling slowly bend forward in the waist.

3.Inhaling rotate to the left in the waist and try to attain position no. 2 as in Preparatory Movement 5.

4.Continue inhaling and rotate backwards as in the position 4 in Preparatory Movement 4.

5.Exhaling further rotate to the right and attain the position no. 4.

6.Continue exhaling rotate to the front and take position no.2, as above.

7.Inhaling, rotate to the right and take position no.5 above.

8.Continue inhaling, rotate backwards, and take the position no.4 above.

9.Exhaling further rotate to the left and attain the position no. 3 above.

10.Continue exhaling and rotate to the front and attain the position no. 2 above.

11.Inhaling raise the waist and attain the position no. 1 above.

12.Exhaling bring the hands down to the normal position.

Preparatory Movement 7

 

Preparatory Movement 7 –

1.Bring both the hands on the waist.

2.Bend the neck forward as much as possible. The chin should get fixed into the pit below the Adam’s Apple.

3.Straighten the neck.

4.Bend the neck backward so much that its front side feels the strain.

5.Straighten the neck.

6.Bend the neck on the left shoulder creating pressure on the right side.

7.Straighten the neck.

8.Bend the neck on the right shoulder creating pressure on the left side.

9.Straighten the neck.

10Bring both the hands down and come to the initial position.

Preparatory Movement 8 –

 

Preparatory Movement 8 –

1.Keep both the hands on the waist.

2.Bend the neck forward at ease.

3.Rotate the neck round to the left and have the position No.6 of Preparatory Movement type 7.

4.Rotate the neck further to the back and have the position No.4 of Preparatory Movement type 7.

5.Then rotate the neck to the right and bring it on the right shoulder (Position No. 8 of Preparatory Movement type 7).

6.Rotate the neck down to the front (Position No.2 above).

7.Now start rotating the neck to the right as in Position No.5 above.

8.Rotate the neck further to the back as in Position No.4 above.

9.Then rotate the neck to the left and keep it on the left shoulder as in Position No.3 above.

10Rotate the neck down to the front as in Position No.2 above.

11.Straighten the neck.

12.Bring both the hands down and come to the initial position.

Preparatory Movement 9

 

Preparatory Movement 9 –

1.In preposition, inhaling raise both the hands up above the head as in the position no. 1 in Preparatory Movement 1 .

2.Then exhaling slowly bend forward in the waist and try to touch the fingers to the ground as in the position no. 2 in Preparatory Movement 1, then bring palms together and keep knees straight.

3.Inhaling rotate to the left in the waist and try to attain position no. 2 Preparatory Movement 5.

4.Continue inhaling and rotate backwards as in the position 4 in Preparatory Movement 4.

5.Exhaling further rotate to the right in the same bent position.

6.Continue exhaling rotate to the front and take position no.2 as above.

7.Inhaling, rotate to the right and take position no.5 above.

8.Continue inhaling, rotate backwards, and take the position no.4 above.

9.Exhaling further rotate to the left and attain the position no. 3 above.

10.Continue exhaling and rotate to the front and attain the position no. 2 above.

11.Inhaling raise the waist and arms stretched above your head.

12.Exhaling bring the hands down to the normal position.

Preparatory Movement 10

Preparatory Movement 10-

1.In preposition , inhaling raise both the heels, then hands from front to the shoulder level, keep them parallel to the ground.

2.Then exhaling slowly start bending down in the knees, sit on the toes, try to maintain the balance with the stretched arms.

3.Inhaling raise your body and take position as in 1.

4.Exhaling bring the arms back to the normal preposition.

Preparatory Movement 11

 

Preparatory Movement 11 –

1.Bend the left hand in the elbow and raise it to the level of 90 degree angle. The arms and the elbows be kept close to the body.

2.Catch the wrist of the left hand by the right hand lightly.

3.Close the fingers of the left hand and rotate the wrist slowly from left to right anticlockwise and complete the cycle.

4.Then rotate the wrist of the left hand from right to left clockwise and complete the cycle.

5.Bring the right hand down.

6.Bring the left hand down and take the initial position. Now take up the right hand and repeat the above mentioned process.

Preparatory Movement 12

 

Preparatory Movement 12 –

1.Bend the left leg in the knee and raise it to the level of 90 degree angle.

2.Hold the thigh of the left leg with both the hands and be stable.

3.Now rotate the foot of the left leg in the ankle from left to right anticlockwise and complete the cycle.

4.Then rotate the same foot from the right to left clockwise and complete the cycle.

5.Bring both the hands to their places.

6.Bring the left leg to its place. Now take up the right leg and repeat through the above mentioned process.

 

CLICK & SEE 

Source: http://www.yogapoint.com

Categories
Yoga

Ardha Paschimottanasana (Yoga Exercise)

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Ardha (means half)Pashchimottanasana is not an independent Asana Exercise). But since Paschimottanasana (full) is difficult to practice, Pashchimottanasana (ardha) is designed to enable the body to take the full position later.
Pre position or First Position: Sitting Position.

CLICK & SEE THE PICTURES

How to do the exercise:

Fold the left leg in the knee and place the heel of the left foot near the thigh of the right leg.(as shown in the picture)
Only inhale.

Exhaling, hold the big toe of the right foot with the left hand and encircle the right hand round the waist.(as per picture)

Exhale completely, and bend downwards and touch the forehead to the knee. Don’t allow the knee to raise. Continue smooth breathing.(as in the picture)

Asana Position : The process of downward bending is the same as in Pashchimottasana (full). In this Asana one leg is folded and the calf and the thigh are kept to the floor.
Releasing Exhale, and inhaling, start raising the head.

Restore both the hands to their place.

Straighten the left leg and take the sitting position.


Note:
Practice this Asana by folding the right leg making the relevant changes.

Duration Initially, even if it is maintained for thirty seconds, one experiences the benefits. Of course, after practice, it should be increased to four to five minutes.


Benefits :
Basically this Asana(Exercise) prepares the body for Pashchimottanasana (full).which will have several benefits is explained in full Paschimottanasana.
Precaution : While bending downward, there is the possibility of the knees and thighs being raised, and this should be avoided.

Reference Book:- Yoga Pravesh

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