In our everyday activities, many muscles in our hands are not properly used, and this often causes stiffness in the shoulders. The shoulder joints are ball and socket joints that require adequate range of movement everyday to prevent stiffness, pain and injury. When stiffness in the shoulder joint is neglected for a long time, it can lead to many health issues.
Caution: Avoid practise when there is injury in the chest, spine or shoulders and after any surgery.
Benefits: Relieves frozen shoulders, fatigue, removes stiffness from the sides, spine, chest and arms and corrects posture.
Instructions:
1. Stand in the upright position with feet parallel to each other. Inhale and raise your hands over your head as high as you can, pointing your fingers upwards. Stay steady for 30 seconds and breathe evenly. Exhale and bring your hands down to the sides.
2. Stand in the upright position grounding your feet firmly on the floor. Inhale and stretch your hands to the sides with your palms facing downwards. Align your hands in line with your shoulders, with fingers pointing outwards. Stay steady for 30 seconds and breathe evenly. Exhale and bring your hands down.
Note: For steps 1 and 2, If you have a weak spine you can support your back against a wall.
3. Stand upright and stretch your hands backwards away from your hips. Interlace your fingers and stay steady for 30 seconds to one minute. Broaden your chest and breathe evenly. Exhale and release the stretch. The pull of the shoulders to the back, provides instant renewal and relief.
Note: For step 3, if your hands do not connect, hold a strap or a soft towel and stretch the hands.
Computer professionals and those leading a sedentary lifestyle must practise the stretches everyday, to improve anatomical flexibility and strength in the upper body and to prevent shoulder pain and fatigue ■
— geetayoga@gmail.com