Hi, I’m Abi and I’m here to help you get the very most that you can out of the yoga videos available to you on the app.
Today specifically, I want to give you some more information about 5 brand new Recovery videos that have you covered from head to toe. Here is the anatomical break down:
- Feet And Ankles
- Hips And Groin
- Lower Back
- Thoracic/Mid Back
- Neck And Shoulders
Style
These videos are slow. They combine joint mobilisations and static stretches, that we hold for 3-5 breaths each. Seasoned Sufferfest yogis will be familiar with many of the poses, such as Downward Dog, Happy Baby, Puppy and Dead Pigeon Pose but there are also some new moves in there, including Half-Twisted Scorpion and Frog Pose.
Sequencing
One of many aspects that differentiates yoga from traditional stretching is a technique we call “sequencing”. For example, if your goal is to release tension in tight hip flexors, we work through a progression of poses that takes you from a gentle stretch, eg. Low Lunge, through to the deeper stretches eg. Lizard Pose. Try to spot these progressions in the videos and the parallel increase in depth of release that you experience. It should feel really good!
Objectives
- One of the primary objectives with these sequences is pain relief. We stretch the hamstrings and hips to relieve pressure on the lower back, open up the chest and the fronts of the shoulders to alleviate pain in between the shoulder blades and improve neck and shoulder mobility to ease stiffness in the upper body.
- Second up is deepening your Recovery so that you can ride and run faster and for longer. It’s just not possible to dig deep and perform at your best if your body is tight and you’re not balancing your training with periods of rest and rejuvenation.
- Finally, as mind and body are connected, these sequences are designed to relieve stress, increase a sense of peace in your mind and improve your ability to focus.
How to get the most out of these videos
Even though the videos are only 15 minutes long and I guide you through each and every breath and movement, I’d love for you to meet me halfway! Please try to find a time and place where you are not distracted to complete your session. Of course, it is fantastic to practice alongside your family and it can be helpful to discuss where you felt the stretches and how you found the poses afterwards, but try not to disturb each other during the session.
And what about distracting yourself? Ideally, you want to keep your mind focused on the routine for the full 15 minutes, so if your mind wanders off, either go and do the thing you are worried about or try to put it out of your mind for the duration. You’ll find that developing this skill can also be very useful off the mat.
And finally, the breath is the most important element in these videos. Try to take slow breaths deep into your abdomen and to lengthen your exhalations as you tune into the sensation of releasing tension. If you notice your mind wandering off, you can even count the breaths in your head to maintain focus.
Challenges
No yoga is easy. In fact, even the easy stuff is hard! There are likely to be poses that you struggle to get into comfortably but there are always modifications and substitutions so just drop me a message and I’ll see if I can help. Also, you might get bored! But don’t worry about that, it’s good for you. Stick with it and you’ll feel way more relaxed for the rest of your life.
