So many outdoor activities going on in our summer right now, as we start to head out the door we may be giving up some of our routines, such as our yoga class. Just remember we can take our yoga practice and incorporate it into our activities off the mat. We will reap the benefits and diminish or alleviate many of these symptoms after our activity such as: lower back pain, shoulder stress, and tight hamstrings. Here on the Olympic Peninsula we are living in a unique place of great beauty, a hiker’s dream, so let’s start with hiking, one of my favorite activities.
Repetitive hiking forces the body in long periods of forward flexion, and due to “the work” involved we have the additional problems of tightening the muscle groups of the lower body; quads, hamstrings and gluteus. Having body awareness can help meet these demands by reducing the potential for misalignment which can result in injury or soreness. Yoga also emphasizes our balancing skills which will help us glide effortlessly over uneven and constantly changing ground. Yoga cultivates the mind-body connection that allows the brain to effectively direct the body with ease and grace. The more aware we are of our body’s position, the better we can direct it.
Take time to stop along the trails, breathe, and practice your asanas in a hikers’ delight:
Tadasana (mountain with a gaze upward)
Padottanasana (wide legged standing forward bend)
Adho Mukha Savanasana (Down dog)
Lunge
Standing Pigeon
Malasana (squat, modified)
Happy Hiking
Namaste
Repetitive hiking forces the body in long periods of forward flexion, and due to “the work” involved we have the additional problems of tightening the muscle groups of the lower body; quads, hamstrings and gluteus. Having body awareness can help meet these demands by reducing the potential for misalignment which can result in injury or soreness. Yoga also emphasizes our balancing skills which will help us glide effortlessly over uneven and constantly changing ground. Yoga cultivates the mind-body connection that allows the brain to effectively direct the body with ease and grace. The more aware we are of our body’s position, the better we can direct it.
Take time to stop along the trails, breathe, and practice your asanas in a hikers’ delight:
Tadasana (mountain with a gaze upward)
Padottanasana (wide legged standing forward bend)
Adho Mukha Savanasana (Down dog)
Lunge
Standing Pigeon
Malasana (squat, modified)
Happy Hiking
Namaste