YOGA PRACTICE: YOGA POSES FOR YOUR KNEES USING YOGA BLOCKS AND A WALL
Yoga poses helps to keep knees healthy and strong. Balancing the hips; strengthening and stretching the muscles in the legs and the feet; and improving core strength all have a positive effect on the health of the knees and to ease the pressure on the knees. Injuries and knee problems are often due to mechanical issues with the kneecap, which then impacts the ligaments and the joints.
Make sure you do the postures correctly, things you have to remember:
– Contract the quadriceps, especially the inner quads. Ensure that the back of the knees are soft.
– Press evenly into the feet, as in equal standing.
– Hug your thighs as when you’re holding a block between them.
– Keep a slight bend in your knees to avoid locking out the joints.
– Keep your lower back long and flat.
– Keep your spine neutral and long, chest lifted and neck long.
– Hold each pose for 3-5 breaths.
– Please start with right side and repeat the left side when come to poses 9, 10, 11, 12 and 18.
– Use the wall and a block for poses 1(Sukhasana), 8(Tadasanaa), 9(Virabhadrasana I),10(Virabhadrasana II),11(Trikonasana), 12(Revolved Trikonasana) and 15(Utkatasana).
– Rest in Savasana with blocks under knees for 2-3mins.
Namaste,
Carmen Lee-Schneider