Technique Tuesday — Legs Up Telly Time
Still think you don’t have time to stretch? We’re back with more myth-busting. When it comes to keeping limber, anything is better than nothing! Whether you’re upping your marathon-prep or business travel mileage this week, taking just a few minutes hit reset will help keep your muscles from cramping and your mind from feeling frantic. Sorry, but at the end of those long work/workout days, stretching your fingers to open a can of beer isn’t going to keep you limber. But here’s the best thing about this week’s edition of Keepin’ it Real: you get to watch TV while you’re doing it.
Try it: Legs up the Wall… in front of the tube!
We consider this the boss of all recovery poses, and it’s the fave of nearly all our athletes. It's awesome.
Just enjoying a little Life of Pi — oh ya, and legs up the wall!
Benefits:
Recirculates your blood and drains excess fluid from your legs
Relaxes your feet
Relaxes the muscles around the low back
Stretches your hamstrings while your spine rests in neutral
How to do it:
Switch on your fave telly program (What can we say, our Sporting Director is British…).
Just what it sounds like: Lie on your back and put your legs up the wall.
Get as close to the wall as you comfortably can with your butt still on the floor.
Keep your knees bent a little and turn your feet away from each other slightly.
If your legs feel like they’re “engaging” back away from the wall until your legs feel more relaxed.
Rest your head on your hands, or put your arms in a goalpost shape or along your sides with your palms facing up — make sure the backs of your palms can easily rest on the floor.
Breathe deeply and stay for at least 5 minutes, or much longer if you’re really comfortable.
If your wall and TV aren’t positioned as ideally as they are here at Athletes for Yoga HQ, no big deal — set up a chair and put your legs up on that or bend your knees so that your calves rest on the seat of the chair.
Stay tuned for more tips on how to Keep it Real to keep your body limber. In the meantime, we want to know: What are your sneaky stretches?!