Life is like a rollercoaster. We have ups and downs, twists and turns, and every now and then we’re thrown for a loop! Our ability to adapt to the moment and respond instead of react will determine how fun the ride can be.
We start to ask ourselves how graceful can I be as I go up and over that first hill when, woosh, it seems like the ground drops away. When a snapshot it taken of me, will I be cringing with eyes closed (often this is my picture from the rollercoaster ride!), will my arms be high in the sky with mouth open in joy, or better yet will we be posing for our candid camera moment?
When we look back over time and remember snapshots of our life, where are the moments you threw your arms up in the air and just enjoyed the ride? How did it feel?
We can’t control what’s going on around us, but we can choose how we respond to it. I invite you to become more flexible and strong in your back with these tips below. Something amazing happens when we work with our bodies, the effects spill over into our mindset. Watch how a flexible and strong spine changes your view of the world.
Quick Question
Are you an arms up rollercoaster rider? Or hold on for dear life kinda person?
I hold on to the bar and to Lexi (my little girl, who is a throw your arms in the air kinda gal!). I am working on being more of a throw your arms up kinda gal. Maybe I’ll start with one arm this rollercoaster season.
Fill me in on your rollercoaster style in the comments below or over on my facebook page!
lots of love to you!
If you didn’t see Tips #1-5, check them out on the Happy Lower Back blog post.
Tip #6 – Windshield Wipers!
Lie down with your legs bent, feet mat distant wide.
Lower your knees to the right.
Lengthen from your tailbone out to the right knee.
If you’re not feeling much of a thigh opening, bring your right foot closer to your right hip.
To release the back even more, stretch your right arm alongside the ear.
Take 5-10 breaths and switch sides.
Smile! ?
Tip #7 – Hero’s Pose – Virasana
“I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people.” Maya Angelou
Begin with your knees very close and your feet a little wider than your hips.
Carefully sit down between your heels.
Make sure your feet are pointing directly back (imagine a line from the center of your heel to the second toe and point that line back.)
Ok – the first 3 steps often are easier said than done. Take these modifications so you can smile here:
If the tops of your feet or ankles are super uncomfortable place a rolled up blanket beneath them.
If your bottom is not touching the floor or there is pain in the knees, place height (like a yoga block) beneath your bottom.
Practice and modify according to what your body needs.
Tip #8 – Malasana
This pose was so much easier when I was 3! These days the squatting pose, malasana, has been a challenging one for me. It’s important to keep your heels rooting down into something rather than lifting your heels. This is so much easier to do if your are wearing a pretty pair of heels! If you don’t have great high heeled shoes nearby, use a blanket.
Please note: you can do this pose with your feet wide or close together, just make sure your heels are resting on something and your knees and toes are facing the same direction.
For fun grab a blanket, fold it in half and stand with your feet a little wider than your hips.
Place your heels on the blanket , with feet wider than your hips, turn your feet out slightly, and slowly bend the knees lowering your hips.
*you can always place a little stool beneath your bottom. Or hold a weight in your hands, or even the edge of the coffee table to help counterbalance.
Have fun! Keep those heels down! ?
Tip #9 – Pigeon Variation
It’s so important to laugh! Don’t take yourself so seriously! This pose is called “pigeon prep”, but for the longest time one of my students thought I was calling this pose “pigeon crap”! Agh! Needless to say they don’t smile so much when we do this pose. 🙂 But in their graceful way, they take it in stride and find something to be lighthearted about. Like giving the pose an endearing nickname. So here’s to the parts of life that aren’t always comfortable but help us to grow! Keep smiling, it gets better.
From downward facing dog swing your right leg forward.
Bring your right knee to be a little wider than your right hip.
Square your hips to the front and work those right toes – pressing the tops of them towards the floor. Keep the left toes curled under.
For this variation, keep your chest upright, heads of the shoulders drawing back.
Very slowly, as if a string were on your right inner thigh – one inch above the knee, lift the knee away from the floor.
Lengthen from the belly back through the right heel.
Switch sides!
Tip #10 – Pigeon with Thigh Stretch
Ok, this pose will make your eyes sparkle. And it shouldn’t be tears! It should be the light of mischief that goes on inside your noggin. You might think, as a pigeon, who would I bless? Oh, it’s all in silliness!
From downward facing dog swing your right leg forward.
Bring your right knee to be a little wider than your right hip.
Square your hips to the front and work those right toes – pressing the tops of them towards the floor.
Bend your left leg and reach back for the outer edge of the foot. You can look over your shoulder initially and even turn your chest towards the left foot to help you find the foot. If you can’t reach the foot either use a belt around the foot or simply leave the foot on the floor for now.
As soon as you have your foot – square your chest to the front of your mat once again.
Press the foot into the hand (to engage the muscles of the leg) and then slowly draw the heel towards the outer left hip. Here come’s the sparkle!
If finding your foot is easy. Hold onto the inside edge of the foot. Lift your elbow so it is pointing to the sky and then slowly rotate your hand in a clockwise direction over the top of your foot.
Breathe.
Switch sides.
with light and love,
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