Stretch of the Week: Wall Calf Stretch
It’s week 3 of loving our calves, and this week is one of my favorite stretches! I call this the Wall Calf Stretch. It’s slightly an inversion (upside down) so please be careful if you have a blood pressure issue or get vertigo easily. For the Wall Calf Stretch you’ll probably need a little wall space. 🙂 (more…)
Stretch of the Week: Calf Massage Technique
This week we are going to give our calves a little extra love with a calf massage technique instead of a stretch. This is one I use all the time because my calves are so tight. If you have trigger points or “knots” in your muscles, this is a great way to work them out on your own. I’ll warn you right now, it might be tender, so just apply as much pressure as you feel comfortable. That’s the great thing about this technique, you have control over how much you sink into the tissue. (more…)
Stretch of the Week: Simple Calf Stretch
February is upon us! Can you believe it!? Let’s loosen up our calves during this lovely month! 🙂 The first week we will keep it sweet and easy with a Simple Calf Stretch. You will need a wall or space on the floor depending on which version you choose. There should not be any strains or complications with this stretch because it’s pretty gentle. It will stretch from the calf through the Achilles’ tendon, and down into the bottom of the foot. Let’s do it! (more…)
Stretch of the Week: Eagle Arms
The final stretch of January’s month long shoulder love is…Eagle Arms! The full version of this stretch can be a little tricky, so I’ve provided an accessible beginner modification for everyone. This will stretch the deltoids and rotator cuff muscles, as well as the upper back slightly. I don’t advise doing this stretch for people with shoulder injuries. You won’t need anything but your arms for this one 🙂 (more…)
Stretch of the Week: Shoulder Stretch
Week 3! How are your shoulders feeling? Are you stretching daily? Couple times a week? Keep it up! This weeks shoulder stretch will take you through the shoulder’s range of motion from front to back. Again, this is a pretty straight forward stretch. I don’t recommend this stretch for people that have any shoulder injuries where it hurts to bring the arms above the head. (more…)
Stretch of the Week: Forearm Wall Stretch
This weeks stretch is called forearm wall stretch. It’s not so much a forearm stretch as it is a shoulder, upper back and chest stretch. The only thing you’ll need for this stretch is a sturdy wall 🙂
I don’t recommend the stretch for people with severe shoulder injuries or upper back injuries. (more…)
Stretch of the Week: Cow Face Arms
January is all about loosening the shoulders up! This month we will take a look at four different stretches that will loosen up the muscles in the chest, the shoulder girdle, and in the front and back of the arm. Please remember to honor your body and not overly push yourself in these moves. The shoulder has a very wide range of motion and can be easily injured if stressed too far, so please listen and be aware of what your body is telling you. (more…)
Stretch of the Week: Child’s Pose
The final stretch of this month is what we call in yoga, child’s pose. It’s a wonderfully grounding stretch. If you feel stressed out, its nice to calm the nerves and mind. Especially with the holidays the past few weeks, this stretch is an excellent one to end the month with. The benefits of this stretch are: clams the brain and helps relieve stress, stretches the hips and thighs, and stretches the ankles as well. This pose is again not recommended for people with severe knee injuries or if you are in your third trimester of pregnancy. (more…)
