A neat shoulder stretch from yesterday's yoga class

[flexagon]

Bring one hand (the right hand, let's say) behind your head and then down to your upper back. The elbow points up. As you try to pat yourself on the back as far down as you can, bring the left hand up to the elbow and use it to pull the right elbow over more to the left.

So far, pretty basic shoulder stretch.

Now come out of the stretch a little, and use your right hand to grasp your left upper arm, near the left shoulder (that thin place between the bicep and deltoid makes a nice place to grab -- also I get a better feeling from just gripping with the fingers in a hook shape, rather than bringing the thumb around the arm). Holding on there, straighten your left arm up to the ceiling, then keep it straight but let it hang out to the side and/or slightly back. Allow the weight of the left arm to deepen the stretch in the right shoulder.

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I haven't posted that much lately about yoga, I know -- not on the verge of anything dramatic just now. Luckily, I'm good enough now that I can have fun working even in the plateaus. I was working on handstands in the gym today though (after lifting, but going light on the shoulders so I could get away with that) and held a split handstand for 5 breaths without touching the wall, and that's probably a record. So it's not like I'm at a standstill or anything.

Comments

[dilletante.livejournal.com]

yay handstands! i still try them a little most weeks at silks, but don't spend much time on them, and they've sort of dropped out of my morning routine. have to fix that.

interesting shoulder stretch. huh.

[flexagon]

I like it. It gives me a lot of leverage on a stretch I didn't used to get any leverage on.

[savage-rose.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that stretch felt good :)