Exercises for stiffness

At any age, stretching of the body has tremendous benefits. It releases tension from your stress points, improves blood circulation and gives you a sense of well-being. If you are a stiff person and have not stretched your body for many years, you need to realise, that at first, your body may not enjoy practising yoga, like a child who does not like water after drinking soft drinks for many years. But, as you feel yourself feeling happier and more relaxed, despite having attempted some difficult movements, you will yourself understand yoga.

Caution: Practice these exercises very slowly without any jerks so that you don't pull your muscles or overstrain your ligaments.

Exercise 1

Exercise 1

• Go down on your knees
• Stretch out one leg forward, the toe pointing upwards, as show
• Now bend down bringing your forehead to the knee, the palms placed on the floor
• Hold the position for 10 - 15 seconds, feeling the stretch on the hamstrings
• Repeat the same with the other side.

Exercise 2

Exercise 2

• Lie down on your back, bending the knees and bringing the foot close to the body
• Raise the left leg straight up; hold the foot with your right hand and if the hand does not reach the foot, try holding the calf area keeping the knee straight
• Now drop the leg on the right side keeping the knee straight, drop the other knee on the same side, as shown
• Hold the position for five to ten seconds
• Repeat the same with the other side.

Exercise 3

Exercise 3

• Lie down on your back, bending the knees and bringing the foot close to the body
• Now raise the right leg straight up, hold the foot with the right hand and if the hand does not reach the foot, try holding the calf area keeping the knee straight
• Now drop the leg on the right side, try not to bend the knee and do not drop the other leg, as shown
• Hold the position for five to ten seconds
• Repeat the same with the other side.