How should I warm up before yoga stretching? Run a few minutes or is there something else?
How should I warm up before yoga stretching? Run a few minutes or is there something else?
You'll find that are some yoga poses that create heat in the body that make other poses easier. For example, if you start with a forward bend it will be difficult. If you start with a few alternating poses of downward dog and upward dog, you'll feel your body get warmer and a bit looser. Also some poses start with a little jump, like the triangles and that gets the blood going a little. Running to my yoga classes for years, I can tell you that yoga is easier without the running beforehand, but still doing yoga after running is useful.
What kind of yoga are you doing?
I have tight ITB/back problems and I've heard yoga can help. I've been looking into several yoga stretches that will help those areas as well as some that will strengthen my core. I don't want to injure myself stretching so I want to make sure I am doing them right.
Do the core poses first and that could act as your warm up, if you already have an idea of what poses you want to do. Getting a dvd could also be helpful. I've never used a dvd, but my friends likes Rodney Yee. If you do the dvd, just follow what it says to do and no need for a warm up as the poses should flow in a progression.
Here's a good site that explains how to do some poses.
yogattahelpme wrote:
I don't want to injure myself stretching so I want to make sure I am doing them right.
If you are doing it right, you should not injure yourself doing yoga. People do injure themselves in yoga but it's not from not doing the pose incorrectly, but from doing it too hard and pushing too far. Be careful. Also some people get carried away and are too serious about it and the tension in the muscles can cause an injury when they fall or something like that. Keep a light attitude. It is not easy and it helps if you don't get worked up over not doing being able to do stuff. Start lightly, be consistent and you will see results.
"... it's not from doing the pose incorrectly..."
Should have a cup of coffee before posting!