Does Your Child Sit For Long Hours Or Complain About Back Pain?
Did you know that the average Australian spends approximately 11 hours sitting each day! When we stop to think about how many times we sit each day, it’s a lot.
We sit down to eat, travel from school or work, we sit when reading or studying, when we are at a computer or doing homework, when playing video games, to use devices, to go to the toilet, in waiting rooms. Let’s face it. We do a lot of sitting.
What's more is The World Health Organisation has listed the 4th largest killer to be physical inactivity.
We love that yoga not only helps us move our body but stretch and strengthen our muscles and spine. It is proven to help strengthen our backs, activate core muscles, improve our spinal mobility, and delivers good posture.
One yoga pose we love for spinal health is locust pose because it
Stretches and strengthens the back muscles
Lengthens the spine
Opposes sitting
Opens the chest
Stretches the throat muscles
Ignites and activates the core muscles
To try locust pose,
Lie on your stomach with your forehead on the mat
Stretch your arms down beside your body with palms facing downwards
Stretch your legs long and press the tops of your feet into the mat and activate your glute muscles
Raise your chest off the mat, then your head and arms
If ok for your back, lift your legs and keep them long and straight with toes pointed
Breathe in and out for 3 – 5 counts
Relax back flat on the mat with your hands resting under your forehead