Yoga poses to loosen tight muscles

Here are two ways to strengthen your lower body muscles using traditional yoga postures. Practicing them regularly will also loosen tightness in your hips, hamstrings and middle and upper back. Start with Triangle pose because it is a basic posture; then move to the more challenging Half Moon pose when you are comfortable.

-- Karen Voight

1 Triangle pose: Position your feet approximately four feet apart. (Instructions are for the mirror image of the photos.) Turn your left foot out at a 90-degree angle and turn your right foot slightly in. Inhale and raise your arms to the side, parallel to the floor. On an exhale, move your pelvis to the right as you reach out with your left hand and lower it to your shin. Raise your right hand above your shoulder and turn your head to look up or down. Hold this position for a few deep breaths; then, on an inhale, slowly return to the starting position and repeat on the other side.

2 Half Moon pose: Perform Triangle pose, then bend your left knee and move your left hand about 10 inches ahead and to the outside of your left foot. Find your balance over your left leg and hand as you slowly straighten your left knee and raise your right leg to hip level. Push out through your right heel and rotate your right hip back. Open across your chest and upper back. Hold this position while you take a few breaths. On an inhale, lower your leg to the floor and lift your torso to the starting position. Repeat on the other side.

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Karen Voight can be reached at kvoightla@aol.com.