How to Do Shoulder Rotation Yoga Exercises

You have hundreds of joints in your body, and your shoulder joint is more mobile than any of them, moving in all sorts of directions depending on what you need it to do. As a result, your shoulder is also extremely vulnerable to pain, injury and dislocation. Do shoulder rotation yoga exercises to keep your shoulders flexible and as free from stress and strain as possible.

Instructions

1. Sit on the floor, your legs crossed, spine straight and eyes closed, your hands resting loosely on your thighs. Breathe deeply in and out several times to prepare to do shoulder rotation yoga exercises.

2. Bend your arms at the elbows and place your fingertips on your shoulders. Your right fingertips should be on your right shoulder, and your left fingertips should be on your left shoulder. Raise your elbows in front of you, with your upper arms at a 90-degree angle with your body.

3. Lift your elbows up toward the ceiling. Once they’re above your head, rotate your shoulders, moving your arms and elbows in a circular motion. Your right shoulder should rotate your right arm and elbow in a clockwise motion, and your left shoulder should rotate your left arm and elbow in a counterclockwise motion.

4. When you are halfway through the rotation, each elbow should be pointing away from you, at the walls, not behind you. They should then move to the sides of your rib cage and back up toward the front of your chest. Repeat these circular motions ten times.

5. Rest your hands back on your thighs and breathe deeply in and out several times to end shoulder rotation yoga exercises.

Tips & Warnings

• • When you do shoulder rotation yoga exercises, both of your shoulders, arms and elbows should be making these circular motions simultaneously.

• • Always breathe through your nose, which not only warms the air to body temperature, but also helps promote deeper, longer breathing.