Yoga for Swimmers Poses

Oblique Crunch

Benefits:
  • Core strength
  • Cross body connection
Cues:
  • Begin with your back flat on the ground with your legs at a 90° and a 45° at the knees
  • Place your fingers at your ears with your elbows at wide
  • Exhale and bring your shoulder blades and tail bone off of the ground
  • Inhale and separate your legs bringing the left leg in towards the body and the right away from the body
  • Exhale bring your right elbow towards your left knee twisting the torso to the left side
  • Inhale bring the upper body back to centre and bring the right leg towards the body and the left leg away
  • Exhale bring your left elbow towards your right knee twisting the torso to the right side
  • Inhale bring both your legs and torso back to centre
  • Exhale come back to the ground with your upper body and tailbone 
Common Errors:
  • Hands are behind the head 
  • Over flexing the neck
  • Seat stays on the ground​
Modifications:
  • Legs are kept together
  • Soles of the feet stay on the ground and just move the upper body
Cautions:
  • Injuries
    • ​Neck
    • Hips
    • Back
Alternative Poses:

Anatomy

Lengthening:
Strengthening:
  • Core
  • Psoas
  • Iliacus