9.4.20 — Yoga Day (reprise)

Back by popular demand and bodily necessity, 10 sore PAX (DaVinci, Sparrow, Shiplap, Wet Burrito, SAGA, Compost (FNG!), HotBox, Banks, Bloomer, Captain Crunch) arrived for an EC recovery day. The day was slightly chilly and misty so they got warm and then got limber.

Warm-O-Rama:

• Run a quick half-mile, including the hill. Get a lather going. Then head to the tennis court for some good traction and a non-lumpy surface.

Check-in

• Straight leg forward fold (note how far you can stretch)
• Seated forward fold (hips then round back)
• Squat Butterfly

Beginning

• Begin in Child’s Pose, extending arms in front of you
• Plank to Down Dog to Forward Fold
• Extra: Hands interlaced behind your back, stretch knuckles to sky and lean forward slightly

Table / Mountain (Cycle x 4)

• Forward Fold (toe-touch)
• Table Pose (straight back, bend knees if needed)
• Forward Fold (toe-touch)
• Mountain Pose (hands raised but open in a Y-shape)

Low Lunge

• Plank (knees if needed) / Up Dog / Down Dog
• R Leg Lift then forward to Low Lunge to
• Crescent Pose (arms raised but open, tail-bone tucked in, abs engaged)
• Split Prep (hands down, forward leg straight, rest on back knee)
• Walk hands forward and lift back knee, then raise forward hand high Low-Lunge+T-Plank (hold)
• Lower back knee, reach high hand back for a quad stretch (hold)
• Both legs back into Cobra
• (Switch legs and repeat)

Warrior

• Down Dog
• Move R foot forward to Low Lunge
• Turn out back foot 90 degrees and move into Warrior 1 (hands raised) (hold)
• Warrior 2 (hands forward and back)
• Reverse Warrior (move forward hand high, back hand rests)

Camel Cycle

• Table Top to Kneeling (toes curled is slightly easier)
• Half-Camel pose (hands out straight in front, then rotate gaze and hands straight up)
• While still looking/reaching up, reach behind with your R hand to touch your R heel (hold)
• (repeat this motion with the other hand)
• Full Camel – work both hands back to your heels and open your chest to the sky

Pigeon stretch

• Lying down, place R foot on left knee, raise left knee and pull gently towards your body with both hands
• Half-Happy Baby – place your R hand in the arch of your R foot, keeping the 90 degree bend at the knee, straighten the opposite leg to the floor, and pull R knee gently towards the ground.

————–

Advanced Circuits (if time allows; attempt with caution)

Deep Lunges

• Low-Lunge position, but elbows down alongside your front leg (or just reach your hands down as far as you can)
• Side Lunge – rotate your straight leg out on the heel, hands planted for support
• (switch sides)

Bridge(+Wheel) and Plow

• Bridge on your back, bring you feet right below your knees. Lift your hips (inhale, then squeeze your glutes and abs before you engage your back muscles) and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat 3 times.
• Wheel (crazy): from bridge, place your palms flat on the ground (by your ears, fingers toward your toes, elbows close) with your core engaged, then push upward with your arms, stabilize and then hold
• Shoulder Stand / Plow: From your back, lift your legs up and support your lower back with your hands (elbows on the ground). Work your weight onto your shoulders, pointing your legs as high as possible. For Plow, slowly move your legs over your head to touch your toes to the ground (if possible). Hold.

————–

Spinal Twist (closing)

• Grab your R knee in your opposite hand and pull it across your body, straightening your right arm out away from your body. (hold)
• (repeat this cycle with your other leg)
• Pull both knees to your chest and rest in an egg shape, rolling slightly on your back
• Corpse Pose (hold for a while, relax, breathe)

Check-in

• Straight leg forward fold (note how far you can stretch)
• Seated forward fold (hips then round back)
• Squat Butterfly

COR/NOR/COT: Prayer for the recovery and health of the group as they hit it hard this month. — for JazzHands’ battles with insomnia and other PAX as they fight the fartsack and attempt to live out their best intentions.