Make Sure to Unwind
Summer provides the opportunity for most people to travel and take their vacations. With that traveling brings a lot of sitting for long periods of time either in a car or plane. Even if we are set to unwind, most people end up exploring, or just being active during their time away.
Although this can be a fun time for everyone, at the end of it all you may find yourself rather sore from all that activity. If you find this resonating with you as you reflect on all of your summer fun, try these 3 yoga poses. They will help the low back, the hips, and help relieve any stress from your travels.
1. High Lunge – Take a big step forward with one leg. Make sure the front leg knee is directly over the front leg ankle. Inhale arms up over head and exhale the shoulders away from the ears. Sink the hips low until you feel a stretch on the back leg hip flexor. Breathe 3-5 breaths and repeat on the other side.
2. Wide Leg Forward Fold – Take a big step to the side and turn the toes slightly in toward each other. As you inhale, hinge from the hips and bring the fingers in line with the toes. Engage the quads and feel the stretch through the hamstrings as you bring your face closer to the floor. Breathe 3-5 breaths here.
3. Rag Doll Pose – Take the feet slightly wider than hip 
distance. Keep a microbend in the knees as you hinge at the hips and grab opposite elbows. Let your head and neck hang, let the arms be very heavy. Feel your torso melt over your thighs. Breathe 3-5 breaths here.
If you find these poses helpful and would like to learn more ways to unwind, please drop by one of our Yoga classes! You can learn more about our Yoga program at flex-pt.com/yoga-therapy/ or call 712-256-1800 and we would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
