Photo: @instagrajam.
Benefits
-Stretches the hamstrings, obliques, intercostal muscles, QL, lats, shoulders and neck.
-Opens up the hips.
-Increases flexibility in the spine.
-Improves breathing efficiency.
Instructions
-Sit comfortably on your mat.
-Bring your right leg out wide, flex your right foot and press the sole of your left foot against your right inner thigh.
-Inhale, sit up tall. Exhale, bring your right elbow and forearm inside your right leg, palm facing up.
-Inhale, sweep your left arm up and over. Exhale, relax into the pose. Keep your right foot flexed and draw your top shoulder back.
-You can look down, straight ahead or up to the sky.
-Stay in the pose for 5 deep breaths, in and out through your nose.
-To come out of the pose, take a deep breath in. Exhale, come back to centre and switch sides.
Modification
-Bend the knee of your extended leg as much as you need to to deepen the stretch in your obliques.
-You can also sit on the edge of a cushion to raise your hips up if that feels more comfortable.
Contraindications
-Knee, hip, back or shoulder injury
Find more yoga poses and routines designed specifically for surfers here.
