If you’re like me and spend all day working at a desk, or even if you’re out and about, it’s good to stretch your body in the right ways. Even just a few minutes of yoga a day will benefit! So here are a few of my favourite poses to do to stretch and release any tension from the day:
Cat/Cow
Perfect for stretching and releasing the spine after sitting or slouching at a desk.
Start in tabletop position on all fours. Wrists under shoulders, knees under hips.
Inhale, curve the back, pushing the pelvis up and lowering the tummy. Gaze forward into Cow pose.
Exhale, push the ground away, arching the back and bringing/sucking the lower tummy in. Gaze at the navel into Cat.
Repeat this sequence as many times as you’d like!
Upward Facing Dog/Downward Facing Dog
Start in plank. Inhale. And as you exhale, bend the elbows and lower down to the mat.
Push the ground away, inhale, bringing wrists under shoulders and opening the chest forward.
Engage the glutes and thighs, pushing through the tops of the feet and lifting the legs off of the mat.
Exhale, lift the hips up and back into downward dog. Draw the lower tummy into the spine like in Cat pose. Draw the heels down to the mat, or you can stay up on top toes.
Inhale, move forward into plank. Exhale lower down to the mat and repeat the sequence 4-5 times or more.
Low Lunge/Half Splits
To stretch and release hips and hamstrings after a long day.
Start in a low lunge, as if you were a runner about to start a race. Lower the back leg down to the mat and inhale
Exhale, draw the hips back, bending the back knee and straightening the front leg into half splits.
Inhale, straighten the back leg and bend the front knee, opening the chest forward again into your lunge.
Repeat this sequence a few times on both sides
Enjoy gently moving your body and playing with poses and sensations, maybe bringing these stretches into your post work routine!
Love,
Charlotte ❤️