By Laurel Leicht; photography by Pexels
Nama-stay in a straight line in chaturanga.
So you hit your yoga mat more than once a week? Doesn’t mean you’re doing every single pose the way you should be. And while yoga is all about what you feel comfortable doing in your own body, making these tiny tweaks can definitely help you maximise your practice. Instructors say they see these two moves done incorrectly all the time. Prove them wrong.
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THE POSE: CHATURANGA
The problem: Lowering too far. It puts unnecessary strain on your rotator cuffs, says Turner, which can lead to an overuse injury.
The fix: Keep your body in a straight line, from shoulders to hips and knees, as you lower to the mat. If your upper-body strength is sagging, drop to your knees on the way down and focus on hugging all of your muscles into your midline, engaging your core and thighs.
READ MORE: How To Get Flexible And Strong With Yoga
THE POSE: FORWARD FOLD
The problem: Keeping your legs straight while letting your spine bend. “Forward fold is meant to open up the muscles in the back of the legs, but it can take weeks to build the flexibility,” says Turner.
The fix: Until you’re limber enough, try this variation: Stand in mountain pose, hinge from the hips on an exhale, and fold forward, keeping your spine as straight as possible and bending knees as necessary. Let your head hang and relax your jaw.
Back feeling a little stiff? Here’s 3 yoga poses that’ll ease back tension, plus read this to figure out which yoga practice is the best fit for you.
This article was originally published on www.womenshealthmag.com
