Yinka’s curiosity in supporting individuals in direction of ache free motion impressed her to coach as a yoga instructor, finishing her British Wheel of Yoga Diploma in 2000. After 18 years of working as an osteopath within the NHS, Yinka started to work full time at her observe, Holmewood Osteopathic Apply which provides person-centred, therapy and administration of ache and restriction. In addition to operating a observe Yinka can be a senior observe educator and lecturer on the College Faculty of Osteopathy (previously The British Faculty of Osteopathy). Yinka has developed and delivered numerous programs and workshops together with 2-day postgraduate programs on the College Faculty of Osteopathy geared toward educating osteopaths and MSK allied healthcare professionals the best way to use parts of yoga to handle low again and shoulder ache.
We’re delighted to carry you this function from Yinka on 6 yoga poses to assist assist shoulder mobility and scale back ache. We additionally caught up with Yinka to listen to extra about her work and mission for 2023 right here, plus Yinka can be providing a free on-line 4-week Refresher/Inexperienced persons Yoga Course with Yogamatters beginning on Thursday twelfth January. To guide and discover out extra go to.
Supported Fish Pose
This pose will carry the mid again space right into a slight backbend, and can stretch the muscle mass throughout the entrance of the chest. Place a block or two blocks (relying on what top feels greatest for you) in a vertical place roughly the place the higher thoracic backbone will lie. Place a blanket over the blocks to make the floor softer to put again.
Place 2 bricks above the primary on the mat horizontal (the place your head can be). From a seated place on the mat with the ft down slowly recline and permit the world between the shoulder blades to be supported by the primary block, maintain reclining and permit the pinnacle to contact the second block (if this doesn’t occur comfortably, place a 3rd block on high of the second). Let the arms calm down on the ground, respiration out and in for a number of breaths. To exit the posture, use the arms to push again as much as sitting.
*This pose can intensely stretch mushy tissue buildings on the entrance of the cervical backbone. This pose requires using 2-3 yoga blocks or bricks.
Spinal Twist with Cactus Arms
This pose will rotate the mid again space and can stretch the muscle mass throughout the entrance of the chest. It should additionally work among the rotator cuff muscle mass and mobilise the ball and socket shoulder joint. From a semi supine place place the heel of every foot in keeping with the center of the buttock. Convey the arms near the edges of the physique palms down and tip the chin to the breastbone. Preserve the pinnacle nonetheless and the soles of the ft on the mat. Carry the arms up and permit them to lie both facet of the pinnacle. Bend the elbows and slide them into line with the shoulders. Breathe in and as you breathe out permit each knees to maneuver to the left, maintain this for a number of breaths and breathe in to return to centre. Repeat to the appropriate facet.
Wall Supported Shoulder Stand
This pose will flex the mid again space and can stretch the muscle mass throughout the entrance of the chest. It will possibly additionally work the central stomach muscle mass surprisingly exhausting. Lie in your left facet along with your buttocks contacting the wall and your legs parallel to the wall and mendacity alongside the ground. Roll to the appropriate and onto your again as you swing/slide your legs up the wall. Push your heels away from you bringing the soles of the ft to face the ceiling. Buttocks ought to keep in touch with the wall. Begin to slide or stroll the ft down the wall and bend the knees. Press the soles of the ft into the wall and carry the pelvis off the ground as soon as the pelvis is lifted begin to assist the decrease again with cupped arms. Pin the elbows into the ground and stroll the arms to the centre of the backbone squeezing the shoulder blades collectively. Draw the chin to the breastbone. *Warning. Weight can be centred throughout the shoulder girdle and a robust stretch could also be felt behind the neck. Maintain the pose for just a few breaths, and slowly launch the pelvis again to the ground. To exit the pose, slide the legs up the wall after which slowly roll onto the left or proper facet because the legs slide or stroll again to the ground.
Supported Butterfly Pose
This pose will carry the mid again space into a delicate supported backbend, and can softly stretch the muscle mass throughout the entrance of the chest. In reclined butterfly the ball and socket shoulder joints are rolled backwards taking stress away from the entrance of the shoulder capsule. Place a bolster in your mat and prop up the highest finish with 2 yoga bricks. Have 2 bricks handy (you too can use 2 hand towels or cushions). Sit on the base of the bolster along with your decrease again contacting the bolster however just remember to are sitting on the mat, not the bolster. Convey the soles of your ft collectively or you possibly can bend your knees maintaining the soles of your ft on the mat, and slowly begin to recline backwards onto the bolster. Your head have to be supported in order that your chin can drop down in direction of your chest. If this doesn’t occur put extra assist on the head finish of the bolster, resembling a cushion. Use the two additional bricks or cushions to position underneath your thighs close to your hips if this helps with consolation.
Seated Facet Stretch
This pose will stretch the lateral muscle mass of the thorax which connect wrap across the again near the shoulder blade. These muscle mass are sometimes tight after a bout of shoulder ache or restriction. Sit comfortably upright both on the ground cross legged or in a chair, breathe in lifting the decrease ribcage as you increase the arms out to the facet to shoulder top. As you breathe out, facet bend to the left taking your left fingertips or palm to the ground on the left. Increase your proper arm to the ceiling. Gaze straight forward or up on the ceiling to the appropriate. To get a deeper stretch of the muscle mass down the again and facet of the shoulder girdle begin to take the appropriate arm over the pinnacle, fingertips pointing to the ground on the left. Rotate the appropriate facet of your ribcage backwards. Slide the left hand sideways as you carry the left elbow to the ground.
Shoulder Stretch with Yoga Belt
This pose will work the ball and socket shoulder joints fairly exhausting and care have to be taken you probably have any instability of those joints or a historical past of dislocating shoulder joints. You’re prone to really feel an intense stretch of the muscle mass throughout the entrance of the chest as they connect close to the arm pit. Sit comfortably upright with a woven non-stretch belt wrapped round every hand so that you’ve got an excellent grip at every finish. Pull the belt taught in entrance of you in order that each arms are outstretched. Breathe in and take the taught belt above your head and as you breath out begin to take it behind your head and down in direction of your shoulders. You’ll really feel the pose intensify and there can be a “candy spot” past this it can get simpler of tougher. Maintain for just a few breaths after which slowly return to your begin level. Go gently.
