CrossFit Yoga: Poses for Post WOD
With the CrossFit Open 2020 starting today we thought we would put together a little guide on CrossFit Yoga poses and stretches you can do after each workout to help with recovery.
The Open is a time where we often really push our bodies to the absolute max in our efforts to compete, obtain PB’s and reach our performance goals. However, we need to ensure that we help our bodies to recover properly in order to avoid injury, reduce aches and pains and to help us stay in good working order for next weeks WOD release!
So to make sure you all have no excuses for not looking after yourselves here are a few CrossFit Yoga poses and stretches you can do POST WOD to help ease off and prevent any soreness.
CrossFit Yoga Poses and Stretches for Post Workout Recovery
1. ARMS – Tricep Stretch
A simple CrossFit Yoga pose that you can do seated or standing. Simply reach with one hand back and down your shoulder blade so that the elbow is pointing upwards. With the other hand, gently push back and down on that elbow to increase the stretch.
Hold for 10 breaths.
Repeat on the other side.
2. ARMS, SHOULDERS & HIPS – Low Lunge with Eagle Arms
Begin in a low lunge position – right leg forwards, ensuring your knee is above or behind the ankle, left leg back, allowing the knee to come to the floor, untuck the toes so the sole of the foot is facing upwards. For more stability feel free to widen your stance – the wider your base, the more stable you will be. Lift out of the pelvis and hips upward and lengthen your spine.
Bring the arms out in front of you, taking the left arm under the right, bending at the elbow and wrapping the hands – if you can’t get a full grip don’t worry. Inhale to lift the arms upward to increase the stretch, take the pose further into a backbend as you exhale to reach up and over behind.
Hold for 10 breaths.
Repeat on the other side.
3. SHOULDERS & UPPER BACK – Extended Childs/Puppy Pose
Option 1 – Extended Childs Pose
From kneeling, touch your big toes together and sit on your heels, then separate your knees about as wide as your hips. Exhale as you fold your torso over and between your thighs, reaching the arms straight out in front of you as far as they can go without lifting your buttocks away from your heels. Try to maintain and promote length in the spine, whilst completely relaxing the body, allowing it to melt, folded, into the ground. Head comes to the floor, if you can, just in front of your knees. Stay here for 10 breaths or more.
Option 2 – Progress to full Puppy Pose
From extended childs pose, walk your hands out in front of you…
- Stage 1 – bring your forehead to the ground.
- Stage 2 – see if you can get deeper and take your chin to the ground, eye gaze toward the front of the mat.
- Stage 3 – go deeper again until you have lowered your chest down toward the mat.
Keep your hips over your knees. Draw your shoulder blades back and down, reach your hips up high toward the ceiling, creating a deeper backbend. Allow your neck to relax. Stay here for 10 breaths.
4. HAMSTRINGS & GLUTES – Half Splits
Come to your hands and knees, step your right foot forward between your hands. The left knee should remain on the ground with the top of the left foot on the ground. Flex your right foot, coming up onto the heel and extending your toes back toward you, and begin to straighten your right leg as much as you comfortably can. Keep your hips square and stacked over your left knee. Inhale to lengthen your spine, and as you exhale, begin to fold over your right leg. Keep drawing your right heel back while reaching your chest forward, and draw your shoulder blades down your back and away from your ears.
Hold for 10 breaths.
Repeat on the other side.
5. HAMSTRINGS, CALVES, ANKLES, SHOULDERS, BACK – Down-Facing Dog
6. QUADS – Leg Breaker Pose
From Kneeling, step your right leg forward, leaving your left leg long on the ground. Reach back with your right hand, whilst lifting the left foot, bending at the knee, and reach for your foot, aiming to clasp around the front o the ankle. Bring the heel towards the buttock, you should feel a stretch in the front of your left quad (leg). If you can’t reach the foot, you could use a strap or wall to assist.
Hold for 10 breaths.
Repeat on the other side.
If you are comfortable here, you can take the pose further into monkey twist.
Come down onto your left forearm, keeping hold of the left foot in your right hand. Flex the foot so that it is active and kick back into the hand, twisting through the shoulders and taking the eye gaze behind towards the back foot.
7. HIP FLEXORS & PASOAS – Leg Stack, Seated Forward Fold
inhale as you lift through the crown of the head lengthening the spine and lifting out of the hips, exhale as you fold forward over the legs reaching the hands out in front of you as far as you can go.
Hold for 10 breaths.
Repeat on the other side.
8. HIP FLEXORS & GLUTES – Half Pigeon Pose
Come to your hands and knees. Bring the right leg in front of you bending at the knee and placing it down on the ground at a 45-degree angle towards the right, front, corner of the mat. Slide the left leg back as far as you can go, toes untucked. Make sure the hips remain left and square the front of the mat. The aim is to get the right bum cheek to the floor and the left hip should rest on top of your right heel. Use blocks as required. If you are comfortable, stay here. If you would like to increase the intensity of the stretch allow the body to fold forwards towards the ground in front until you are completely flat on the ground.
Hold for 10 breaths.
Repeat on the other side.
9. SPINE, LOWER BACK, GLUTES – Supine Abdominal Twist
Lay flat on your mat. Take your arms out to the side in a ‘T’ shaped position, palms facing down. Inhale to lift the legs together bending at the knees 90 degrees. Exhale to drop the legs over the left side of the body. Shoulders remain flat to the ground. Inhale to turn the head so that you look at the back of the right hand. Stay here for 10 breaths. Inhale to lift the head and legs back to the centre. Repeat on the other side.
To increase the stretch you can either…
- If your knees are not on the ground, gently push down on the outer thigh with the opposite hand
- If your knees are on the ground, try extending the top leg and cradling the foot in the opposite hand.
Hold for 10 breaths.
Repeat on the other side.
Want to try a class?!
Flotality runs several yoga classes, courses and workshops during the week, including our regular drop-in FLO & Restore Class every Thursday morning 11:30 am at The Yoga Room, Blackwater, Camberley. Advance booking is essential, first-timers can enjoy this class for just £5, or £10 pay as you go for regulars. Message us to reserve your space.
CAN’T MAKE IT?!
Have you ever considered booking a private yoga session?
Designed specifically for your needs and ability, private sessions can be enjoyed 1 on 1 or as a group if you have friends who would like to come too and help split the cost (sometimes it works out cheaper than the public classes)!
Specialists in CrossFit Yoga
We specialise in CrossFit Yoga for fitness and recovery – so we are a little different from your usual yoga teachers as we really understand your sport and what the body requires to remain in tip-top condition.
Get in touch with me today to book at a time that suits you best.
LIKE MY OUTFIT?!
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You can view their full range over on their website here: www.remainuntamed.com
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