Summer travel plans?
The summer travel season is in full swing. While many of us excitedly look forward to our vacation destinations, the journey with overbookings, crowded airports and long car rides can have us feeling unsettled and uncomfortable.
Have you ever noticed how your body feels after a long airplane ride or road-trip? Travel can be stressful and sitting for long periods of time can make us stiff.
Try these yoga poses to help destress your mind and your body so you can enjoy your summer destination and focus on fun.
Sweated Spinal Twist
Seated twist is one of our favorite poses to invite space back into the body and to relieve stress. Perfect for post travel or your staycation.
This restorative twist opens the chest, shoulders and back inviting spinal mobility and helps relieve lower back pain. As you releases tension in the body, you will also notice a positive effect on the mind, as this pose promotes relaxation.
There are many variations of this pose, to practice as shown:
Sit upright with your legs extended. Bend your right knee and cross your right leg over the left, placing your foot next to your left thigh. Now, bend your left knee and direct your left ankle towards your right glute. Your right foot should stay on the floor. Square your hips. Now place your right arm behind your hip and place your fingertips on the floor, gently begin twisting your body to the right. Reach your left arm upward and then cross your body hugging your arm around your knee. With each exhale, gentle twist your body. Hold for 5 breaths and then repeat on the other side.
Eagle Arms
This pose will melt away tension and stiffness that builds up in the shoulders, neck and back.
From a seated position, inhale and extend the arms out in front of you. Exhale and cross your right arm under your left arm. Cross your wrists if you can. Hold for 5 rounds of breath. Repeat as you uncross your arms and then switch sides.
*Need to modify? Place forearm to forearm.
Benefits: This pose creates space in the body, offering a nice stretch to the arms and the shoulder muscles. In addition, this pose invites us to go inward which in turns helps with focus and concentration.
Wide-Legged Standing Forward Fold with Hands Interlaced
All forward folds are great yoga poses for anyone looking for spinal mobility, flexibility and relaxation.
This particular version of the pose stretches the lower back, hamstrings, calves, shoulders, and chest. A welcomed stretch after hours sitting!
Feed should be shoulder width apart. Engage your abs by drawing your navel toward your spine as you interlace your hands behind your back. Take an exhale and slowly draw your head towards the earth... leading with your heart and lengthening your spine. As you actively extend your hands to the sky. Keep the weight on the toes and hold for 5 breaths.
Forward folds calm our nervous system and allow everything to slow down. Need to quiet your mind, get back to center or just a deep stretch, take a forward fold.
Butterfly Pose
Create some space for yourself! A beginner friendly hip opener. Butterfly pose comes with a variety of body benefits including improved digestive and flexibility in the hips, groin & thigh.
From a seated position, bring the soles of your feet together, close to your pelvis, allowing your knees to fall out to the sides. Sit tall and lengthen your spine. Hold onto the outsides of your feet and press the soles of your feet towards each other. If your body allows it, fold forward from the hips, keeping your spine long and your shoulders wide.
Hold this pose for 5 to10 breathes and feel it's benefits immediately.
While you can practice these poses anywhere, we encourage you to step outside and get double the benefit. Nature calms the mind leaving us feeling refreshed and renewed, this is especially welcoming after a long trip. Lastly, remember you don't have to be a practicing yogi to take advantage of these restorative poses.
Be Well!