After a solid three months of sticking to a three day a week weightlifting routine at the gym I can safely say that I bloomin’ love it. It’s tough but it’s definitely my favourite method of exercising that I’ve found so far and not only is it shifting my body in a physical way, it’s toughening me up mentally as well. My regular wailings to my PT Paul of ‘Are you MAD?!’ when he loaded up the bar have turned into me having a little word with myself and telling myself that I can do it. There is of course the odd time when I almost burst into tears (the prowler will forever be my nemesis), but overall I only have good things to report.
There is one thing though – tightness. I’m not the most flexible of persons in the first place, but since I began training and despite stretching before and after workouts I feel the need to lengthen and stretch it out even more. On my non-gym days I was packing in a cardio workout when I could be arsed, but instead I’ve subbed them for an at-home YouTube-led yoga sesh; which sometimes are a bit sweaty and sometimes have a bit more emphasis on lengthening out those muscles which makes me feel so good/so darn inflexible in equal measures. On a Sunday I go for the sweat-free (but most definitely not shake-free) stretch option. Here are five of my favourite videos to stretch it out to…
Madeleine Shaw’s Yoga For Stress. This is nice restorative practice that only takes around 10 minutes so is a nice one to crack out before bed. I’m actually using Madeleine’s yoga videos from her Glow Guides App for all my yoga needs right now and I’m loving her Yin Yoga Sunday sessions. Even Mark joins in. Think stretches held for minutes at a time. Sounds boring but is so relaxing.
FitnessBlender’s Goodbye Stress Calming Stretching Workout. FitnessBlender consistently put out amazing workout videos. Most of which will have you sweating it out in a way that you never have before and your downstairs neighbour wondering if a herd of elephants have moved in upstairs. This however is a little more chill. A really good one for after running actually as there is a big emphasis on legs, hips and glutes.
Yoga With Adriene’s Yoga For Bedtime. Ahhh common’, you knew they’d be an Adriene video in here. She’s my fave! Even just the thought of this video makes me feel sleepy. There are pillows involved people. Pillows! I don’t think I need to say anymore.
Yoga With Adriene’s Yoga For Relaxation. Because I love Adriene so much I thought I’d add in another one. This is a little longer than the previous one, but is just as relaxing and heck it involves a blanket. A blanket! If a yoga routine incorporates bedding in some way then I’m always down for it. Whereas the previous one I’d do before bed, this is a nice one for the morning to clear your mind for the day ahead.
Lesley Fightmaster’s Yoga Stretch. Boy is that Lesley a flexible one! Now I have to use a lot of blocks and straps here as a lot of the poses are just too much for my tight ol’ hammies, but Lesley offers up lots of alternatives and I feel seriously long and lengthened after doing this. I feel like this would be a killer good one to do after a leg day. Good luck!
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