Hi everyone,
I thought I would put a few ideas down on staying youthful and limber in these interesting times. I am finding I’m either feverishly working on projects in case the lockdown is lifted, or exhausted and listless, finding it hard to be motivated as the lockdown progresses. I find doing short bursts of yoga fit me best, but sometimes I just want to put the mat down and keep going for a while.
Some of the things I’m using are these:
SHOULDERS, NECK AND UPPER BACK – I HAVE BEEN LIFTING BAGS OF COMPOST AND THIS IS WHAT I DO TO RECOVER:
All fours, cat/cow. Plank to down dog and work into my hamstrings for a few minutes; move into plank and focus on shoulders, drawing back, opening chest and using my core and legs to support. Move to the floor through chaturanga, thinking about elbows close to body, shoulders drawing back and core strong.
I repeat this a few times and might do a sun salute or two, putting a lunge in as I step forward.
Twisting – lying down twists – for the golfers this is a must before you hit the course, loosen your back, neck and shoulders and hamstrings.
KEEPING MY LEGS AND HIPS OPEN AND COUNTERING STIFFNESS OR DELICATE KNEES:
Lunges as above, also variations of warrior 3, hands on a support like a chair or kitchen counter, lift one leg behind and fold my upper body forward and repeat on the other leg. Lifting leg forward (start with bent knee) rest foot on furniture, low or high – if low try to keep leg straight, if high, keep knee soft and work into hip joint.
For my knees pigeon or reverse(lying down) pigeon – I only go as far as a gentle stretch and repeat.
Dont forget to go upside down safely and in the morning…
Let me know if this is useful and if there’s anything you’d like to see. Use your furniture, do a little at a time and enjoy!
Stay safe everyone, see you soon
Eileen
Hi Eileen,
Lovely to hear from you. Can’t wait to get back to the studio. I’ve been doing a few YouTube classes with Jason Crandall, but nothing beats our Over 60’s gang!
Hope you and your family, and all at balance, are keeping well.
Best wishes
Sandy
Hi Sandy,
So nice to hear from you and great you are keeping up a practice! I’ve passed your message on to Eileen.
Take care and hope to see you soon
Alex
Hello Eileen, good to hear from you. I’ve been doing some neck and shoulder exercises every day, followed by as many sun salutations as I have the energy for. I know what you mean about energy levels fluctuating wildly. I’m looking forward to the over 60s classes resuming. In the meantime, enjoy your gardening, which must be one of the best ways of escaping our new ‘normality’.
All the best,
Colin
Hi Colin, for your neck and shoulders try lying down twist, keeping your shoulder blades flat on the floor. Then take your arms out to the side and twist again and if this is ok try bending your arms at the elbow keeping your lower arm on the floor as much as you can. Hope that makes sense.
Sun salutes, start with a couple of moon salutes first and go with your feeling on the day. Don’t have an expectation of how many or how strong.
Everything helps. If you want to join the WhatsApp group let Mary know.
Eileen
Hi Eileen,
Only discovered your blog today. Hope you are still well and not overdoing the gardening. We are well and keeping busy dog walking gardening cooking and my U3A art group has kept going online which has been fun. We have a WhatsApp group so can see what everyone else is doing.
I have done quite a few of the online yoga classes Lorraine’ s which was good but too fast for me one of. Gerry’s which was too difficult and finally settled on Jane’s Improvers although I have to admit I haven’t done it for several weeks.
I do always do several moon salutes down dog and a few other exercises every morning so not too bad I hope. It would be so good to be able to come back to your class.
Keep well.
Regards Mary
Hi Mary,
I’ve passed your message on to Eileen. We really hope to start up again soon and get the over 60s class up and running again – just waiting to hear from the government and to get some safety procedures in place.
See you soon!
Alex
Hi Eileen,
Looking forward to getting back to our over 60s class. I have been practising well, but now I need all my bad habits ironed out.
Regards,
Andy.
Hi Andy,
I’ve passed your message on to Eileen. There is a Whatsapp group for Overe 60s so let me know if you want to join!
Take care and hope to see you soon!
Alex