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Treadmill Tip: Focus on Your Hamstrings
The cold, wet, snowy Winter months can definitely make running on a treadmill much more appealing than the great outdoors. There are advantages to both running locations, but one disadvantage of using a treadmill is the belt. The backward motion of the belt assists you by pulling your feet back underneath your body, which means you are exerting less energy to move your feet and legs than when running outdoors on a surface that doesn't provide any momentum.
Stretch It: Lying Hamstring Stretch
After a long run or a good leg workout, my hamstrings always feel tight. This is one of my favorite stretches for hamstrings called the Lying Hamstring Stretch. Here's how to do it:
- Lie on your back and lift your right knee up.
Partner Yoga Pose: Backpack
Got a tight back? Here's a fun way to open your spine and stretch your hamstrings too. I call this Backpack.
Work It Girl: Hamstring Stretch
If you work at a desk all day and your lower back is not too happy about all that sitting, here's a great stretch to get you on your feet and relieve some of that tightness.
- Place your right foot up on your chair, or all the way up on your desk if you're a little bit more flexible. Place your hands on the chair or desk, or somewhere on your leg.
- Keep both legs straight, lengthen your spine, and gently fold your torso over your right thigh.
Strike a Yoga Pose: Gate
Now that you've had a chance to practice Beginner's Gate, you're hopefully ready to try the full expression of the pose. Not only does this posture loosen tight hamstrings, but it also works on stretching the sides of your torso as well.
Sanskrit Name: Parighasana
English Translation: Cross Beam of a Gate Pose
Also Called: Gate
To hear the description of how to get yourself into this awesome pose, read more
Strike a Yoga Pose: Beginner's Gate
Seated postures are great for meditation because they are easier to hold than some poses (like Half Moon pose), and because you are so grounded, they instill a sense of calmness.
This pose called Beginner's Gate also opens your hips and hamstrings, and allows you to practice lengthening your spine and sitting nice and tall.
Sanskrit Name: Parighasana
English Translation: Cross Beam of a Gate Pose
Also Called: Gate
Want to know how to do it?
Biking By Muscle
Biking is a great way to work your legs without taking a toll on your knees. To work the separate muscle groups in your legs it pays to pedal with clips, or straps, that secure your foot to the pedal.
Emphasize the downstroke: If you push on the downstroke you will work your quads - the muscle in the front of the thigh.
Strike a Yoga Pose: Half Hero Forward Bend
Since I'm a runner, I love yoga poses that stretch out my tight hamstrings, quads, and lower back. This pose stretches them all at the same time. If you love Hero pose and Seated Forward Bend, you're going to love this one.
The Pilates Cadillac: So Many Fun Things You Can Do
The word Cadillac conjures up big convertible cars with fins, electric windows and fancy hub caps. That is why this piece of Pilates equipment is named the Cadillac - it has all the bells and whistles you could possibly want.
There are so many elements to the machine: leg springs, arm springs, fuzzy loops to hang from, a push-through bar to stretch you out, and even a trapeze.
Other Search Results
5 Things: About Your Hamstrings
Tight hamstrings are a complaint of many athletes since they're often overworked and under stretched. Here's some things you may not have known about your hammys:
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