The good weather is here and with that comes the back-breaking work of making your garden bloom! Before you get those rakes and weed whackers out make sure to do some light stretches described below. Remember your body, like your garden, needs some care from time to time.
So, before you toil in the soil consider going for a quick walk, this warms up and loosens the muscles and then do the following stretches
Lateral stretch
With both feet planted on the floor put left hand on hip and raise the right up, slowly bend towards the left hand side without twisting your body forward, repeat other side
Standing forward and bend
Stand with feet together and knees slightly bent. Bend forward with arms behind back and fingers interlaced. Be sure your weight is evenly distributed between both feet. Relax the weight of your head, neck and shoulders. Lift arms overhead, bringing them in line with shoulders, breathe deeply
Cat pose
Get down on all fours. Place your hands shoulder distance apart and your knees at hip distance. Gently tighten stomach muscles, pulling navel into spine and rounding the back from head to tailbone. Lower and relax head and neck as you exhale.
Cow pose
On all fours, drop your stomach toward the floor, arch your back and lift head upwards as you inhale.
*** Rotate between this position and the cat pose in a smooth fashion
Supine Twist
Lie on back with knees bent and arms out, palms up. Lower your knees to your left side while keeping shoulders on floor. Turn your head in the opposite direction of your knees. Looking out over your fingertips, inhale. Return to center. Repeat on the opposite side, exhaling as you lower knees.
Goddess Pose
Lie flat on the floor with feet together and knees bent. Gently lower knees toward the floor in opposite directions. Inhale and reach arms overhead, resting backs of hands on the floor. Touch thumbs and index fingers and press elbows outward. Relax body.
Make sure to drink lots of water, repeat the above stretches and treat yourself to a massage this summer, because you and your body deserves it!