Flexibility is essential for our overall health and well being. As we age, our muscles naturally lose elasticity and become less supple, which can lead to poor posture, poor circulation (which can be linked to kidney and cardiovascular disease) and injury. Increasing our flexibility decreases our risk of injuries when performing physical, everyday, activities by helping our joints move through their full range of motion and enabling blood flow to our muscles so they work most effectively.
This week’s featured classes will increase your range of motion and will create more flexibility and space in your entire body.
- Find Your Flexibility with Tara Judelle: Hold asanas for 30 seconds to increase hip, hamstring, and back flexibility. Starting supine and working up to seated forward bends with janu sirasana and baddha konasana, this class is good maintenance for flexibility as well as to increase flexibility. Great to do upon waking to loosen up or before bed to prepare for a restful night. Props Needed: Two blankets and a strap.
- Cross Referencing with Mary Taylor: Throughout your body there are interconnected patterns of movement, breath and form that, when ignited, give you a deep connection to your core strength, revealing the path to your maximum flexibility and sense of balance. Work with traditional postures and variations that emphasize muscular and energetic connections side to side and head to toe as you explore your inner landscape. Unfold feelings of being open, integrated and grounded as you practice. Props Needed: A block.
- Posture Perfect with Jason Crandell: Improve your posture by focusing on creating more flexibility, openness and range of motion in your chest while strengthening your upper back and core. Move your body with a flow of vinyasas as you build strength and stretch in this critical area of your body. A backbend finishes your practice, then take savasana on your own. Lots of counter poses for the work you do on computers and devices! Props Needed: A strap.
- Deep Release for Flexibility and Grace with Taylor Harkness: To cultivate fluidity and grace, flexibility and a liberated range of motion are essential. Lengthen and release the often tight and bound up places within your body with longer, yin-style holds. The sequence works to decompress and bring space into your hips, shoulders and spine. Savasanas are sprinkled throughout and you will leave your mat feeling open and relaxed. Props Needed: A bolster, one or two blocks and a strap.
- Increase Flexibility & Strength with Stephanie Snyder: You will need 2 blocks and a blanket for this flow class. This may be challenging for you but a good effort will bring progress in your practice. This sequence will increase flexibilty and strength through standing poses, some twisting and a heart/shoulder opener.
