If you’re a writer or artist, you’ll probably say the most valued and precious parts of your body are your hands, your eyes, and your brain (in no particular order). Looking after these tools is important, and we need to take the time to exercise these areas, specifically to prevent the shortening and locking of muscles that results from extended periods of delicate and precise or repetitive motions.
Hands, arms, shoulders, and bac
For writers, repetitively punching a keyboard can play havoc with your fingers, wrists, forearms, shoulders, and the way you sit, and the duration of time you spend in your chair can affect your bac .
Artists can spend hours hunched over a board or standing in front of an easel, with your dominant hand locked in a claw. How often have you placed your paintbrush down only to find your hand is almost too stiff to release it? Standing for long hours can also cause damage, especially to your vascular system resulting in varicose veins in your legs, and the chance of developing deep vein thrombosis.
| Swami Ramdevji - Yoga Quic Pranayam Introduction |
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IF YOU HAVE ANY EXISTING INJURIES, ILLNESS, OR WEAKNESSES IN MUSCLES OR JOINTS, PLEASE DISCUSS THESE EXERCISES WITH YOUR DOCTOR FIRST.
None of these exercises should hurt. The point of yoga, especially gentle practices such as these, is to improve circulation and the supply of oxygen to your body. You don’t need to feel much more than the lightest of muscle stretching for the exercises to be of great benefit. If you feel any pain, come out of the exercise slowly and safely, being sure to protect your bac and joints.
Remember to breathe. Focus on what you are doing and how it feels to you. Tal to your body – is it happy with being in this position?
Downward facing dog
The downward dog yoga pose is a good exercise for stretching out the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your wrists, arms, shoulders, bac , butt, and legs. The pressure and stretch placed on the wrists is generally opposite to the tightening caused by typing or intricate painting and drawing.
To do downward dog, start in a position on your hands and knees with your body relaxed and evenly balanced.
Curl your toes under and lift your knees off the ground. Your butt should point straight in the air and your body form a triangle, with your legs, arms, and the floor as the sides. Bring your head as evenly between your arms as you can, and you should feel a gentle stretch in your hamstrings and your bac .
Hold the pose as long as is comfortable. Vary it by moving slightly to feel different stretches in your legs, arms, and shoulders. For example, try to flatten one foot at a time on the ground while slightly bending the other knee. This will give you a more intense hamstring workout.
Return to your hands and knees to come out of the pose.
Modified warrior pose
Stand with your legs quite wide apart, your feet beyond your hips. Stretch both arms out to either side, palms parallel with the floor. Hold this pose until your arms start to feel slightly tired.
Drop your hands at the wrists without moving your arms, so that both your palms are facing towards your body. You should feel a gentle stretch in your forearms.
Lift your hands up so that your palms are facing away from you. Allow a gentle stretch through your palms and the tops of your forearms.
Eye exercises
Focusing on a computer screen, writing pad, or drawing for long periods can lead to temporary, or even permanent, short-sightedness as the eyes adjust to the perceived increased demand for precision close viewing. It is important to have regular breaks during your wor period, and change the focal point of your eyes frequently.
Focus on a point in the middle distance. Move your eyes up to the top left corner of your peripheral vision without moving your head. Return to the centre point, blin several times, and refocus. Now move your eyes down to the bottom right-hand corner of your peripheral vision. Return to the centre point, blin several times, and refocus.
Now repeat this diagonal in the opposite direction. Move your eyes to the top right corner, return to centre and refocus, move to the bottom left.
Return to centre and close your eyes for a few minutes to completely relax them.
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