Full-Video: https://vimeo.com/307763281
Teacher: Willow (Naked in Motion)
Student: Nicole
(All Levels)
I have a really tight upper body, so I put together this routine over the years as a way to help open up my chest, arms, shoulders, neck, and upper back. If this resonates with you, give this routine a try! It’s a combination of yoga, Pilates, and even dance and other movement techniques. We spend so much time hunched over our computers and phones, so it’s important to do movement that opposes those actions. It’s a wonderful sequence for people who desire more flexibility in the upper body, but not necessarily for those with injuries of the neck, shoulders, or wrists. Of course, if you have any injuries, always listen to your body and check with a physician if you have questions about yoga with an injury. You can skip anything you want, take breaks when you need to, and modify the postures to better fit your needs. Some of the details on the poses are actually helpful modifications for those with injuries in the upper body, but this routine is mostly for folks without upper body injuries who want a deep stretch. The class itself is more of an intermediate routine, so it’s helpful to have some experience with yoga, although you can follow along even if you’re a beginner. If you’re a more advanced practitioner, feel free to move more quickly or add in some vinyasa flows between the postures (and I cued some of those opportunities). As I mention in the video, tight muscles don’t necessarily indicate strong muscles, so we also spend some time working on strengthening the upper body. I’ll guide you through some Sun Salutations, Warriors, and even some seated and lying-down poses, but we’ll take the usual postures and find ways to increase strength-building or flexibility specifically for the upper body. Have a yoga strap and a couple blocks handy! -NYV0122B
