I love yoga but I struggle to make time for it alongside my strength training and cardio workouts.
That’s why I like Yoga With Adriene, the YouTube channel from Adriene Mishler.
Mishler has been sharing yoga routines online for over a decade and I always turn to them as a way to soothe my body and my mind.
With over 13 million followers, I’m certainly not the only person who enjoys her routines.
Her practices are always beginner-friendly, with modifications and step-by-step guidance.
I decided to try one of her recent fortnightly releases to fit some stretching into my day.
What I thought of the 10-minute hamstrings and lower-back routine
Mishler’s routine came at the perfect time after waking up with sore muscles following a lower-body dumbbell workout.
As always, Mishler starts the practice with a couple of minutes of grounding that helps you connect to your body, breath and mind—the whole premise of yoga.
Sometimes I want to jump right into the more dynamic yoga poses but this guided section always helps me relax.
Although the routine’s focus is on hamstrings and lower back, several postures also felt great on my shoulders and upper back.
Lizard pose provided a deep stretch through my hips and the runner’s lunge released tension through my hamstrings.
I also found that Mishler's tip to keep my knees bent during a forward fold helped me get a deeper stretch in my upper back and neck.
After 10 minutes with Mishler, my legs felt a lot lighter and less sore.
It'll certainly be a routine I come back to in the future to improve my post-workout recovery.
