Yoga for Stress Relief: Practice for the SI Joint

[Guest guest]

When the alarm went off at the usual 4:00am I knew that today would more or less be a rest day.  My legs are sore from running, my triceps are still sore from Lean Circuit 1 and my obliques are sore from Turbo Kick R43 standing abs.

My lower back has been talking to me and since my download of Biggest Loser hadn't finished I decided to do one of my favorite lower back practices from Body Wisdom, Yoga for Stress Relief: Practice for the SI Joint, by Barbara Benaugh.  I dimmed the lights, lit a candle, brought out my yoga pillows and strap and settled in to this 35 minute practice.  I can't recommend this one enough.  It takes place outside on a tropical beach and Barbara has such a soothing southern voice.

In it you do:1. reclined cobblers' pose2. wave breathing (basically holding your knees  to your chest and moving rhythmically)3. supine hamstring stretches with a strap (both cats joined me for this one)

4. reclined half lotus pose 5. low back strengtheners lying prone6. frog (adductor wide knee) stretch 7. down dog8  corpse poseSince I've been getting more and more involved in strength training my yoga practices have taken a back seat and this is not good.  For me, yin yoga and restorative yoga  = injury prevention.  Don't forget, flexibility is just as important as strength and cardio training!

Namaste,