Former yoga teacher in Wellington New Zealand
Sometimes it’s easier to find the quadriceps or thigh stretch in a lunge with the back knee down. Start from standing with your feet hip-width apart. Step your left foot back to a lunge keeping the front knee over the
One of my favourite variations for the lunge is adding a twist. It can be a gentle option to move your upper spine. Start from standing with your feet hip-width apart. Step your left foot back to the lung keeping
Every yoga class I’ve taught has had a few, if not several lunges in them. The lunge is a simple and easy way to stretch several muscles in your legs including the thigh and groin muscles including the psoas. There
Speaking of shoulder stretches, the arm position from garuda or eagle pose is an easy way to stretch your shoulders and upper back – even while you’re sitting at the desk, in front of the TV or on the ferry. While sitting
I’ve featured this pose before but thought I would show this one with the optional twist. Prasarita paddotanasana (wide legged forward bend). Good for hips, hamstring and groin stretch and when you add in the twist – great for spine
I do a lot of tramping with Tony Gazley who always carries his camera. These days, every time we get to a scenic spot – we both think yoga pose! The first one that always comes to mind is tree
Warrior 2, or virabhadrasana 2, is one of the most common poses and you’ll find it in just about every class more than once. It’s excellent for both strengthening and stretching the legs, as well the upper body and arms.
Spinal twists can help relieve back pain and sometimes help even out muscle tension in the back – here are a couple of variations that might be familiar. Sit down on the floor with both legs extended in front of
Every class always has a few sun salutations which combine several yoga poses. Cobra, or bhujangasana, is one of those poses that we often flow through quickly. But it’s quite a useful pose for stretching the front of the body
Balance isn’t just important for trampers – it’s essential for us all. Working on your balance uses the muscles around your joints helping them to gain strength and ultimately protect your joints. I recently went tramping in the Tararuas just beyond