Stretch
Try adding these stretches to your evening routine to help you relax.
Child pose:
From a tabletop position, push your hips back to your heels, walk your palms out in front and bring your forehead down to the mat. Child pose is very calming and relaxing, which will help you to unwind on an evening! Stay in this pose for 60 seconds and return to it for a further 60 seconds after the following stretches.
Cobra:
Lying on your front with your legs fully extended, place the palms of your hands beside your chest with your fingers pointing to the front of your mat. Press your palms into the mat and straighten your arms to lift your chest. Press your shoulder blades into your upper back and look up. Hold this pose for 30 seconds.
Seated forward fold:
Starting in a seated position with your legs fully extended in front of you and your toes pointing up, hinge at the hips and lengthen your spine. If it’s comfortable to do so, take hold of your feet; if this isn’t comfortable, place your hands down beside your legs and walk them forwards. Reach the crown of your head towards your feet. Hold this pose for 60 seconds.
Pigeon:
From a high plank position, bring your right knee towards your right wrist and gently lower yourself to the mat, keeping your left leg extended behind you. Keep your shoulders back and look straight ahead. This pose is great for opening up your hips which relieves stress, and also for releasing tension from your back. Hold it for 60 seconds and then switch sides.
Seated neck stretch:
From a seated position looking straight ahead, place the palm of your hand on the opposite side of your head and gently pull your head towards your shoulder to get a stretch down the side of your neck. Hold this for 30 seconds. For a deeper stretch down the side of the back of your neck, tilt your chin down on an angle and hold this for a further 30 seconds. We hold most of our tension in our necks, so this one is perfect for unwinding on an evening!