Stretch of the Week: Sage Twist
The third week of twists has brought us to a stretch we call Sage Twist in yoga. It’s unique because we turn our head in the opposite direction of our bodies. This gives us a stretch in our neck as well. Bonus! This stretch is done on the floor but if that is not accessible to you, you can sit in a chair and repeat week one of March, the easy seated twist, with turning the head over the opposite shoulder. (more…)
Stretch of the Week: Thread the Needle
In week two of March we are doing a twist called thread the needle. Maybe you have heard of this stretch before? If not, it’s a nice gentle yet effective one you should definitely try! This stretch has the same benefits as last week’s stretch, but we get a little bit more into feeling this in the lateral body, or the sides of the body. (more…)
Benefits of Dynamic Stretching for Hockey Warm-Up
In my blog post from last month I discussed the benefits of foam rolling for preparing the body to play hockey. This month the topic of pre-participation warm-up will be discussed again, but through a very different but equally as important technique. Dynamic Stretching. (more…)
Stretch of the Week: Easy Seated Twist
For the month of March we will be focusing on twisting the spine! Twisting is extremely healthy for the body. Benefits include: helps to improve digestion, strengthens and stretches the spine, helps to reduce back pain, and twisting aids in detoxing the organs, just to name a few! (more…)
Athletic Trainers Keep You at the Top of Your Game
You may think of an athletic trainer as the person at the end of the bench who comes running to the aid of an injured player. While you’d be right, you would be only partially right. Certified athletic trainers are members of a health care team who work with physicians, physical therapists and others to help prevent, recognize, assess, and rehabilitate injuries no matter where they occur. Athletic trainers are everywhere from the field, in the back yard and on the dance floor or stage. (more…)
Stretch of the Week: Dolphin Stretch
The last calf stretch of February is the Dolphin stretch. The Dolphin Stretch is a bonus stretch because it will get into the shoulders and the upper back as well as the calves! It’s very similar to the forearm stretch on the wall from week 2 in January if you want to go back and take a look, but we are taking it to the floor this week.
Stretch of the Week: Wall Calf Stretch
It’s week 3 of loving our calves, and this week is one of my favorite stretches! I call this the Wall Calf Stretch. It’s slightly an inversion (upside down) so please be careful if you have a blood pressure issue or get vertigo easily. For the Wall Calf Stretch you’ll probably need a little wall space. 🙂 (more…)
Stretch of the Week: Calf Massage Technique
This week we are going to give our calves a little extra love with a calf massage technique instead of a stretch. This is one I use all the time because my calves are so tight. If you have trigger points or “knots” in your muscles, this is a great way to work them out on your own. I’ll warn you right now, it might be tender, so just apply as much pressure as you feel comfortable. That’s the great thing about this technique, you have control over how much you sink into the tissue. (more…)
