WORKOUT WEDNESDAY Stretching

We get it. It's cold outside, your bed is warm and that dream about vacationing on a fantastic island makes you want to close your eyes again to see if you can return to swaying in a hammock. We don't blame you. But if you're going to skip out on a workout (or two), please, please, take a few minutes to stretch before you face the day.

Not only will you

• improve your muscle strength
• help your posture
• increase flexibility
• help prevent injury

But it will also get your circulation going so that you are actually more alert and awake! And since it requires no equipment, you can do it wherever you are, even if you're on the road like I am. In the long run, those few minutes will turn into a healthier you.

Speaking of stretching, we also challenge you to stretch your limits a bit throughout the day, even if not in the physical sense. Perhaps try a new food, sip a new tea, take the scenic way home or learn about something you wouldn't normally be drawn to (staffers around here recommend This American Life or Radiolab just for stretching your mind).

How do you break out of your comfort zone? Any good stretches you recommend?

Comments

[Antonia Dernosch]

Hi, as a yoga instructor I understand that the most difficult part for people is sometimes not the class itself or the movements and poses, because once you are in the class and moving your body starts to feel better and it recognizes that the stretches, flow and movement make you feel happier and more active an healthy, however the problem for most people is to get to the point of practice and to start moving. This starts with your work-out attitude, so thank God your yoga and workout is ONLY a mind thing now ;)

here, I am sorry to tell you that I have not come across any secret stretches or magical poses, (not even in yoga ;) that will suddenly make you jump up and start you up to effortlessly flow through your entire workout routine, I wish there were....

...but I recommend 2 shockingly simple steps:

don't think about it too long = set your mind =make the decision to practice and move

(it is not a life and death decision to work out, most ppl make the mistake to think too long before they start to move!!!!!!! ..because all you do is something good for you and your body. once you are moving you know you will feel better, so don't let your brain overanalyze the decision and start thinking weather you need to wash your hair again after, take another shower and you will be late or if you really want to go out into the cold weather to the studio right now, since you would actually like to stay in bed longer or go home into bed earlier?... and forget all the other reasons you could possibly come up with , that will most definitely keep you from working out ;) DO NOT even get yourself to think about them, be radical and in a split second decide: I WILL WORK OUT!! no other thoughts and just GO!!!!! (btw i dont mean to sound like a cult here :)

soooo= 1. make a radical quick decision =don't over-think

and therefore step two just follows as easily
"just start moving"

(grab your keys and energetically take whatever transportation you need to get to your work out location (run or take your bike to the studio ??? ;) the car is fine too, no worries, but don't take long, keep yourself in a moving, active, energized mindset until you get to the studio and get going!! (here i also don't mean to be over reactive and agressive in traffic, because you got yourself so pumped up to do yoga that everybody else on the road is too slow for you now and you start honking and cursing at other drivers to stay energetically charged and get to the studio faster.... noooo please that's not what i mean!!!) just listen to your "work out song" most of you will have a song that just right away gets you into a "moving and shaking mode" or just keep thinking positive thoughts that will keep you in happy mindset about your upcoming yoga or workout session : "i will feel so much healthier and energized after or my jeans will fit super loose today ;)" whatever it is that makes you wanna move!!
oooo and by the way i didn't mean for it to come across as a joke before when I said "run or take a bike" it would be a super healthy for you plus a environmentally conscious decision to you lessen your carbon foot print on our planet by not taking your car, if the studio is anywhere in a reachable distance for you!! it will also help you tho start moving !!)

as follows= 2. JUST DO IT! get going right away = keep yourself active
(haha, yes credits to Nike here)

**TIP to GO: in yoga the easiest way to just get going= we start with SUN SALUTES, starting to connect your inhales as you slowly circle your hands up over head and on the exhales you fold over with a flat torso to touch your hands to the floor; this helps to get your blood circulation and breath going and your body starts to move easily and warm up so you feel more energized right away and get ready to practice; it also connects the bright and reactive energy of the sun with the grounding energy of the earth, which helps your body to find and keep balance ... (you can do the salutes anywhere, no space needed and they will energize you, promise:)

wether you start to practice or work out every day, mostly depends on your mind and what you decide to do, therefore the safest way to ensure you will work out 100% for sure.. don't give yourself time to make a decision that you can second guess after!!!

as a little SUMMERY you only need two steps you have to think about:
1. make a radical quick decision
2. JUST DO IT!!! = move!!!!

[dd]

always a morning stretch for sure before a day starts. Then later on in the day make bridge poses and massage adrenals.. In cooler weather Pigeon poses keep this one in the flow and moving forward...