Push Ups
How to Perform the Posture
No exercise engages the scapula, quite like the push up. For strengthening the arms, shoulders, and body core, nothing beats this traditional exercise. The push up also engages the serratus anterior muscle along your rib cage, the same muscle targeted in traditional standing postures with extended arms.
Lie flat on your stomach with your head and nose touching the floor. Place your hands next to your shoulder blades, with your thumbs touching your shoulders.
More from the Earth Component
The Bellows
Breathing in is Yin, breathing out is Yang. When performing the martial forms, we associate breathing in with defensive movements, while we associate breathing out with offensive movements.
In The Bellows, we coordinate breathing with movement while exercising the spine, shoulders, and hips.
Foot Circles
Walking heel-to-toe seems natural enough, but that old enemy of sitting too much can really interfere with your ability to put one foot in front of the other. What usually happens, is that one foot kicks out to the side and lands slightly on one side of the foot or the other. You will recognize t…
Hurdler’s Stretch
This is one of my favorite stretches. Start on your hands and knees as in the Bridge, but put the left foot in front of the right knee, with the heel touching the knee.
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