Hi there, fellow wellness warriors! If you are on your mat or considering getting on one, then the range of motion is probably something you are considering. Spoiler alert-it’s a biggie! Let’s have a brief chat as to why flexibility before and after yoga will benefit not only your practice but also your fitness journey.
The Importance of Flexibility in Yoga
Picture this: A long week at the office, your back tight like a guitar string, and by the time you reach your yoga class, your body seems to scream, “What on earth are you doing to me?” Trust me, it’s not just you: tight muscles have plagued all of us, especially after living a sedentary life.
Flexibility is considered the ability of the joints and muscles to go through a proper range of motion. It is key in yoga, as this quality allows a person to attain those amazing poses we all drool over. When the body is flexible, the person is able to go deeper into poses, thus gaining a lot more physical and mental benefits while practicing.
Gaining Flexibility Before You Flow
Flexibility isn’t a gift that certain lucky souls were born with! Flexibility takes hard work! Here are some simple little tips that frankly have great meaning, as they will bring you greater flexibility before your mat time:
Maintain a gentle stretch for about 10-15 minutes of the day that targets all the major muscle groups. Think of it as a simple wake-up call for the body! When stretching, focus on those areas that seem tight, hamstrings, hip flexors, and shoulders.
Be gentle in your warm-ups: before class, warm your body up by doing some moves that don’t require great strength. Moving your wrists, neck, and ankles with small circles can really get the job done. You just want to make sure your body is ready to move!
Breathe: deep breathing allows one to relax the muscles. Do some simple breathing exercises progressively leading to yoga that purifies the mind and body for a deeper yoga practice.
Post Workout Glow: Cool Down!
Since you have soared through your class like a pure bliss emotion, do not forget that the cool down holds paramount importance. It is not just about quenching your thirst and mindlessly scrolling through your smartphone. Here’s how you could work on your stretchy post-yoga game.
Savasana: Who doesn’t welcome the last resting pose? Treat it with total respect. Just let your body sink, relax. That’s a momentary opportunity for your muscles to release some tension left inside and go limp.
Post-Savasana Stretch: A few moments of stretching is always recommended after you rise from Savasana. You can do some forward bends and light twists, keeping that relaxed feeling going on and gently restoring your flexibility.
Hydrate and Reflect: Rehydrate for recovery post-yoga. Also, while you sip, consider your day. Examine the stretches, which have helped you the most what you liked best during your practice.
Flexibility Is a Daily Practice You Need to Embed into Your Life
In order to See flexibility as a journey the simple addition of small daily practices into your everyday habits would suffice. It could be as simple as setting that alarm to break for a few stretches during your lunch hour; or it could just be doing a few minutes of yoga while your coffee brews.
Conclusion: You Can!
The practice of flexibility before and after yoga developed one’s skills in yoga, neither for performing a yoga asana nor its connection with strength and maintaining general health. Rather than a quick-feed-your-cat approach; embrace the journey; one touch at a time; and keep in mind that one finish line is not far away.
Starting with stretches is fine; little tiny steps to larger stretches. It’s just the idea of walking down the road of flexibility into self-care; feeding the body what it requires and welcoming that journey.
read another article
Cardio and Endurance: Your Guide to Build Stamina Like a Pro
