Yoga for The Arms and Shoulders

Yoga for The Arms and Shoulders

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I.      Yoga Pose #1 The Gate



The gate yoga pose focuses on opening both of your shoulders while simultaneously stretching your spine, hamstrings, and both sides of your body. It also energizes your lungs and abdominal organs. Anyone who has a knee injury should perform this pose while sitting on a chair (if required), or else they should avoid it if they can.

  1. Focus: Shoulders
  2. Level: Beginner
  3. Total Time: 30 to 60 seconds
  4. Indications: energizes lungs and abdomen
  5. Contraindications: modification for a knee injury


How to do it?

1. Begin by kneeling on the ground. Straighten your right leg, extending it bent the proper, and press your foot, both toes, and heel, against the bottom. Your right knee and ankle should be facing straight up, aligned with the highest of your leg. Slightly rotate your abdomen to the right side of your body while moving your upper body to the left side.

2. Breathe in and extend your arms out to your sides. Bend your body over your right leg and rest your right as far down your leg as possible. The right side of your torso is going to be compressed while you’ll be stretching the left side.

3. Place your left hand on your left hip and push your abdomen down into the ground. Move your left to your lower left skeletal structure and push it up toward your shoulders.

4. Inhale as you stretch your left arm over your head to the right. Allow your left hep slightly to roll forward but stretch your upper body far away from the bottom.

5. Stay during this position for 30 to 60 seconds. To release yourself from this pose, inhale and lift your torso copy straight through your top arm. Then simply return your right leg to its original position.

6. Rest a moment, then repeat the process to the left.



II.   Yoga Pose #2 The Handstand



The forearm stand is that the prerequisite to holding a handstand. It also builds strength in both of your shoulders, wrists, and arms while stretching your belly. A forearm stand can enhance your balance and is believed to be effective in treating depression and anxiety.

If you’ve got ever experienced a neck, back, or shoulder injury, you ought to avoid this pose. Likewise, individuals that suffer from headaches, high vital signs, heart conditions, and who are menstruating should approach with caution. Pregnant women should forego this pose entirely.



The forearm stand is an advanced inversion. It usually requires serious strength in both of your hands, arms, and shoulders. Before you take it on, you should be able to perform the following:

1. Downward-facing dog.

2. Dolphin plank.

3. Crow.

4. Headstand.

5. Eight-angle pose.

• Focus: Shoulders

• Level: Advanced

• Total Time: 10 seconds or longer, counting on experience level

• Indications: depression, anxiety

• Contraindications: neck, back, or shoulder injury, headaches, high vital signs, heart problems, pregnancy.



How to do it?

1. Start from the downward-facing dog. Stand on your hands and knees together with your shoulders directly above your hands and your hips above your knees. Press both hips straight up until both of your legs and arms are completely straight. Let your neck continue the line of your back from hips to go. Breathe deeply and slowly.

2. Lower your forearms to the ground. Splay your fingers apart and press them into the bottom. You will use your fingers to supply balance once you enter the handstand, so begin to use them now. Tighten your shoulder blades, pulling them together then toward your tailbone.

3. Step your left leg forward, bend your left knee, and flex your right foot. Push up to boost your hips and torso until your torso is straight above your shoulders.

4. Raise your legs until they are straight and vertical, in line with the rest of your body.

5. Enlist your core stomach muscles to help keep your hips over your shoulders. If your groin or armpits feel stiff, you’ll elongate your lower back by pulling the front of your ribs into your body and stretching your tailbone into the soles of your feet.

6. Press your legs together and rotate your thighs inward. Allow your head to hold between your shoulders and stare straight ahead.

7. Stay in this position for 10 seconds at first. Over time, you’ll work your high to a maximum of 60 seconds. Continue to breathe in the fresh air deeply, slowly, and steadily, as you maintain this yoga pose.

8. To release this position, breathe out and lower first one leg, then the other. Keep your chest raised and your shoulder blades separated as you bring down both of your legs.

9. Stand in a forward bend for 30 seconds before you slowly raise your torso to an upright position, one vertebra at a time.

10. If you cannot get yourself completely upside down, that’s okay. Continue to practice the strength-building poses which will eventually provide you with enough power to support and balance your body.



III. Yoga Pose #3 The Firefly



The firefly helps build strength in your arms and wrists while stretching your groin and therefore the back. It also can tone your stomach and enhance your balance. If you suffer from any injury on your shoulder, wrist, elbow, or lower back then it is advisable to avoid this pose.

Beginners can make this pose easier by sitting on the ground, positioning their legs at 90-degree angles, and using yoga blocks to raise each heel.

  1. Focus: Arms
  2. Level: Advanced
  3. Total Time: 15 to 30 seconds
  4. Indications: stress, anxiety
  5. Contraindications: injury to the shoulder, wrist, elbow, lower back.


How to do it?

1. Begin by squatting with your feet a little less than shoulder-width apart. Tilt your abdomen forward and bend your torso right down to hang between your legs. Keeping your body low, bend your legs until your abdomen is level together with your knees.

2. Move your left upper arm and shoulder as far as you can under your left thigh above your knee, placing your hand just to the outside of your foot. Your fingers should point forward. Do the same with your right upper arm.

3. Raise your body off the ground, by shifting your center of gravity. Push your hands into the bottom and gently roll your weight off your feet onto your hands. Your inner thighs should remain as high in your arms as possible.

4. Inhale, extend your legs to the sides as straight as possible while keeping your abdomen high, so that your legs are parallel to the ground. Push through the rock bottom of your big toes while pulling and spreading your toes toward your body. Tilt the inner edges of both of your feet forward slightly while keeping the outer edges back.

5. Straighten your arms and widen your shoulder blades to hollow your chest. Raise your head and look into the distance. Take slow breaths and stay during this position for 15 to 30 seconds. Then, release your feet to the bottom as you exhale.



IV.   Yoga Pose #4 The Dolphin Plank



The dolphin plank usually builds strength in your shoulders, neck, and spine while strengthening your core and posture. Individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome or shoulder injuries should avoid this pose.

The dolphin plank differs from the straight plank, therein the forearms rest on the bottom, whereas within the regular plank, your upper body is supported by your hands and wrists and your arms are straight.

  1. Focus: Arms
  2. Level: Beginner
  3. Total Time: 30 to 60 seconds
  4. Indications: concentration
  5. Contraindications: carpal tunnel syndrome, shoulder injury


How to do it?

1. Begin in a downward-facing dog. Start on your hands and knees together with your shoulders directly above your hands and your hips above your knees. Press both hips straight up until both of your legs and arms are completely straight. Let your neck continue the line of your back from hips to go. Breathe deeply and slowly.

2. Breathe in and pull your body forward until your shoulders are directly above your wrists.

3. This should bring your body parallel to the ground with your arms perpendicular to it.

4. Press the outsides of your arms in and forcefully press the underside of your index fingers into the ground. Lower your elbows to the ground. Tense your shoulders, contracting them together then expanding them far away from your spine. At an equivalent time, expand your collarbone from your chest.

5. Press the front of your thighs upward while allowing your tailbone to resist the ground as it naturally elongates down toward the soles of your feet. Lift your head until the rear of your neck is parallel to the bottom, and gaze straight downward. Stay during this position for 30 to 60 seconds.



V.      Yoga Pose #5 The Upward Plank



The upward plank builds strength in your arms and wrists also as your legs while stretching your ankles, shoulders, and chest. Anyone with a wrist injury should avoid this yoga pose. Individuals who have experienced a neck injury should use a wall or chair seat to support their neck during this pose.

  1. Focus: Arms and Wrists
  2. Level: Intermediate
  3. Total Time: 30 seconds
  4. Indications: thyroid, abdominal organ function
  5. Contraindications: wrist injury, modification for a neck injury.


How to do it?

1. Begin by sitting in the staff pose: Sit down on the ground and stretch your legs straight forward, flexing your ankles and bending your toes back toward your torso, which is straight and tall.

2. Place your hands lightly atop your thighs, palms downward, as you shift them slightly inward and press them into the ground. Breathe deeply in, then slowly out.

3. Continue to sustain slow, full breathing as you place your thumbs under the edge of your armpits and let the upward force lift your entire torso until your head is completely straight above your heart, which is directly above both of your hips.

4. Sustaining this tall torso, lower your arms to your sides, touching the ground with your fingertips to steady your posture and balance.

5. Remain in this position as long as you want.

6. Place your hands a few inches behind your hips and point your fingers forward. Bend your knees to plant your feet on the bottom together with your heels about 12 inches far away from your hips; then rotate your big toes inward.

7. Breathe out, press your hands and the insides of your feet into the ground and raise your hips until your body and thighs are parallel to the ground, and your arms and shins are perpendicular.

8. While keeping your hips in place, straighten out your right leg followed by your left leg. Raise your hips a little higher without causing your hips to the firm. Raise your chest while pressing down your shoulder blades together across your back in slow motion.

9. Gently tip your head backward without shortening your neck. Then simply maintain this position for 30 seconds.

10. To release, breathe out, and lower yourself back into the staff pose. Stretch your legs simply, flexing your ankles and bending your toes back toward your torso, which is suspended by an invisible string that runs up to the celebs.

(Also Read: 6 Mindful Eating Tips That Will Help You Stay Healthy During The Challenging Weather)


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