Good Form: Yoga pose is a far stretch
Stretch your chest, shoulders, back and leg muscles with this yoga-based forward bend. It’s important to place your feet correctly on the mat so you will feel stable and balanced while in the pose.
Stand upright on a flat, non-slippery surface. Place your right foot forward with your toes pointed straight ahead. Step backward with your left foot so that your feet are approximately 31/2 feet apart. Line up your left heel with your right heel, rotating your left foot out slightly. Interlace your fingers behind your hips. Inhale and raise your chest, pulling your abdominals in toward your spine.
On an exhalation, bend forward at your hips while keeping your legs straight. Raise your hands toward the ceiling, keeping the palms of your hands together. Think of moving your hands away from the center of your back in order to keep your shoulders relaxed and away from your ears. Hold for three to six breaths. Return to the start position, switch legs and repeat. As you progress, try to hold the pose longer on each side.
Voight is the creator of a line of fitness DVDs, including “Full Body Stretch” and “Ballet BodySculpt.”