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Vital Juice

Vital Juice

Fitness

January 4, 2011

Park-Ready Exercises

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Use park props to enhance your workout.

Puppy Dog: This is similar to Downward-Facing Dog, but done standing up. Hold on to the back of a bench. Then step back, lean away from the bench, and feel the stretch in your arms, back, and backs of your legs.

Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana (Extended Hand to Big Toe Pose): Stand facing the seat or back of the bench. Place hands on hips, lift one leg and place foot on bench. Straighten both legs and either remain upright or start to fold over your lifted leg to deepen the hamstring stretch. Repeat on the other side.

Ankle to Knee Pose: Sitting on the bench, cross one ankle over the other leg, just above your knee. Flex feet, then fold torso over legs as much as possible.

Shoulder Opener at a Tree (or Lamppost): Stand beside a tree and lift the arm closest to it alongside your ear. Turn your palm toward the tree and circle arm back until it's at shoulder height. Press the hand or whole arm into the tree to stretch the front of your shoulder and upper arm.

Source: YogaWorks Senior Teacher, Jeanmarie Paolillo