If you’re in Japan like me, you’ll probably be peeing your pants with excitement to go out snowboarding in that fresh powder!
Or just generally rush to get out as fast as possible, as the mountains are calling!
Well you better do a little warm up, or you won’t last long on the mountain and you’ll stiffen up right afterwards, unless you have access to onsen (natural hot spring bath), Japan perks.
So here’s a Quick Snowboarders Warm Up Yoga sequence, it’ll take you less than 10 minutes.
This sequence is a version of Sun Salutation but with a little leg action in there, to warm up your thighs for snowboarding.
If you’re still not convinced about why you should warm up before you head out to the mountains, here’s a previous post How Yoga Can Help You With Your Snowboarding which you can use for a little more motivation.
If you’d like this yoga sequence sign up below to get this as a PDF, so you can practice when offline (pesky mountain wifi isn’t always so reliable!)
Yoga Sequence below:
Make sure to hold each pose for about x5 breaths.
Mountain Pose as its also called, feet hip widths apart, legs strong, stomach strong, your bum tucked in, shoulders open, head looking forward and both arms strongly by your side. Feel the strength and lengthening in this pose.
Get a whole body stretch, without doing a great deal. While in Tadasana (Pose 1) bend your knees, make sure you can still see your feet. Tuck your bum in, stomach tucked inwards, arms up and look forward. You’ll feel strong in your whole body.
Bring your left leg back, align your hips, so they face forward, like your shoulders. Bring both hands up above your head. Make sure your knee isn’t sticking out too much, knee must be at a 90 degrees angle.
Press both arms down on the mat, get into a plank pose. Bring your knees down to the mat, chest down on the mat, bring your elbows in towards your ribs and place your chin on the mat.
Press on your hands, bring your bum up, pressing on the tips of your toes, bend your kness, press your chest down towards the mat, relax the hands and straighten out your arms. Relax your head, looking towards the middle of your feet or the back of the mat.
Bring your right leg back, align your hips, so they face forward, like your shoulders. Bring both hands up above your head. Make sure your knee isn’t sticking out too much, knee must be at a 90 degrees angle.
(Or Sumo Pose if this name is too girly for you) From Low Lunge, place your fingertips on the mat, move your hands to the middle of your body and bring your right knee upwards. Press up with your legs, your legs are in a triangle position, bend down, bring your bum low and sticking your knees out to the side. Bring your arms up above your head.
Want to ride / ski better, for longer? Get access to free yoga sequences, to help you, warm up and relax before an amazing day on the mountain.