
Catch the flesh of your forearms on the mat, so they “stick” at shoulder width. Pincha Mayurasana (Feathered Peacock Pose) at the WallĬome onto all fours on your mat with your forearms placed slightly narrower than shoulder-width apart.

For a chest stretch, pull the strap away from your body while keeping a soft bend in your elbows. Pull your shoulder heads back and squeeze your shoulder blades toward each other. Hold a strap shoulder-width apart with your hands behind your back. Anjaneyasana (Low Lunge) with hands holding strapĬome into a Low Lunge with your back knee on the floor. To fully stretch your chest, keep your armpits lifted while simultaneously softening your mid- to upper spine toward the floor. Start on all fours in Tabletop, then push up, making an upside-down V shape with your body. Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing Dog) Then bring your hands backward and over your head to the point where you feel a stretch in your arms, pecs, and chest muscles. Pull the strap apart with your hands and hold it taut. Stand with your feet hip-width distance and hold a strap or belt out in front of you with your hands about 3 feet apart. See also: Not to Sound Like Your Mom, But Your Posture Could Use Some Help Chest stretch with a strap This sequence will gradually stretch open the chest-as well as the shoulders, and upper back, contributing to good posture as well as longevity in the spine. They also can mitigate damage done by having less than perfect posture. But there’s another set of movements to put on your daily to-do list: chest stretches.Ĭhest stretches keep your pectoral and upper back muscles loose. Maybe you do some neck rolls and overhead reaches first thing in the morning, and loosen up your hamstrings before you unroll your mat. Some stretches are already likely part of your routine. The names of the poses are written in English and in Sanskrit.Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Here, Antonia shows and comments on some of the best yoga poses that you can practice to improve your surfing skills. 8 yoga poses that will help you to get better at surfing But it's also great to practice as a warmup at the beach. Therefore you can use yoga as good preparation to get physically and mentally ready for the waves. Surfing is a demanding sport and if you start surfing without the flexibility and core power it will be even more challenging for you. By taking deep inhales and exhales you calm your body, which is super helpful if you have a wipeout or if you dive through a wave. During the day we tend to just breathe into our chest and not breathe fully down to the belly. – While doing yoga poses you focus a lot on your breath. In yoga, you work your core a lot, and in surfing a strong core will keep you stable on the board when you paddle. We need a lot of flexibility in our hips, shoulders and ankles as we surf! Strong shoulders are also important for paddling and doing pop-ups. – Yoga is really helpful for surfing because you have the physical side of yoga where you improve your strength, stability and flexibility. Outside of the yoga studio, she surfs as often as she can. Antonia Tauscheck has been practicing yoga for twelve years and became a yoga instructor six years ago. Some benefits include a wider range of motion, improved breathing and a lesser risk of injuries. Why is yoga good for surfers?īy continuously practicing yoga you can improve your surfing. Yoga can be explained as a discipline or a way of life that connects the body, mind and spirit. Yoga is a cultural and spiritual Indian practice that's over 5 000 years old. For some, both these practices are also spiritual. It can even make you feel calmer in the water. Adding yoga to your daily or weekly routine will make you stronger and more comfortable on your board.

The two share physical aspects like balance and flexibility, as well as mental ones. Here we list our top 8 yoga poses that will help you become an overall better surfer. But there are many great ways to improve your surfing skills on land in between your sessions. It goes without saying that the best way to improve your surfing is to get into the ocean and surf.
