While it is a myth that you can lose weight from specified parts of the body – a myth pedaled by the manufacturers of those ab-isolation belts and other useless contraptions, it is true that you can perform specific exercises to strengthen certain parts of the body. Muscle strength is important not just so you can perform certain physical tasks, but also to improve flexibility and stability and to prevent injury and pain. Strong shoulders are important not just so you look good in certain outfits; the benefits go way beyond aesthetics.
Strengthen your shoulders
Strong shoulders can promote a better posture and contribute to a stronger, more stable body core. Stronger muscles in the shoulders and surrounding areas mean better stability and protection against injury. The shoulders perform a variety of functions but if the muscles in that area are weak they do not give sufficient support to the joints and are more prone to getting pulled or injured. Not only that, strong shoulder muscles increase your range of motion and flexibility, letting you perform a variety of functions without stress or apprehension of problems such as bursitis, tendonitis and so on.
Aasans that help to promote shoulder strength
You don’t need to pump weights to build up your shoulder strength. There are ways in which yoga aasans can help strengthen the shoulders without building them up – many women may not like the idea of bulky shoulders after all. These positions will help building up muscle strength:
Adho Mukha Svanasan or downward facing dog and Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (Upward Facing Dog) – I often recommend adho mukha svanasan for the many benefits it has. It stretches many important muscles and strengthens them too, including the shoulders which bear the weight of half the body in this position. Upward facing dog or urdhva mukha svanasana requires you to lie on the stomach and to arch the torso upward and off the ground with the face looking upward and the palms supporting the upper body weight.
Plank pose and forearm plank pose – The plank pose where the body weight is supported on the palms and toes of the feet or on the forearms and the feet, also strengthens the shoulders. While the plank pose can be performed with the torso facing downward, it can also be done in a sideways position with one elbow resting on the ground and the other arm stretched out above the head.
Four-Limbed Staff Pose (Chaturanga Dandasana) – this pose can be difficult for the uninitiated because it does require quite a bit of strength. You have to have your body parallel to the ground, with your weight resting on your toes and palms, with the elbows tucked close to the side of the body. This tones the arms, back, chest and the shoulders to enhance core strength.
I will end with a small caution about doing exercises that conform to your level of fitness and to refrain from them if you have any kind of injury that could exacerbate the problem.
Visit our yoga classes in Bandra for a trial session. Learn about many other shoulder strengthening aasans, and much else besides. Call 99675 31905.