DID YOU KNOW….
Wrist pain is one of the most common complaints when first developing a yoga practice. Many of us have not engaged in activities in which we bear substantial weight on our hands, so it is natural that beginning to apply more weight on your hands can come with some discomfort. Pain in wrists can often stem from lack of mobility in our range of motion, or lack of strength. The good news is, there are remedies for both!
A few daily wrist stretches can help you expand your range of motion. These stretches can easily be done seated, or even on your mat while in table top. The more consistent you are in stretching your palms by drawing your finders back and moving your wrists with a small amount of weight you’ll start to see progress.
Additionally, if it’s strength that you need you can begin to build strength in table top and down dog by trying to keep your palms as flat as possible (making sure the undersides of your knuckles are pressed down) against your mat. Adding in complimentary exercises that help strengthen your grip muscles, and forearm muscles will also support your wrists. These can include drills like holding a light weight/dumbell and rotating your wrists in all directions. Also, body weight hangs from a bar and farmers-carries fare quick ways to strengthen our grip. The stronger you can make your hands and forearms, the more support you’ll give your wrists.
Please remember, however, if you’re experiencing extreme pain you should always seek the guidance of medical professional as it maybe something more serious like a bone spur or a cyst, and pushing through that kind of pain could lead to injury.
