Loosening up your shoulders

[Bradders]

Had my first proper lesson on Bobby today - all at walk really but I want to start again - with basics then build up

But we discovered that I have some trouble with my arms 0 largely becasue my shoulders are so stiff and tense - they are actually really sore at the mo.

Any exercises to loosen them up?

(Bobby was a saint by the way! )

[Heather]

Aw good boy!! Circling your arms, Jen, can do it on the ground, not even on a horse! Circle forwards, and then backwards.

A really good one is circling one forwards and the other backwards- makes patting your head and rubbing your tummy seem simple!

[intouch]

Take a deep breath, bring your shoulders up to your ears then as you breath out, roll your shoulders backwards.  If you know anyone that does Bowen, ask them to do "fire brigade" on your shoulders!

[Bradders]

A really good one is circling one forwards and the other backwards- makes patting your head and rubbing your tummy seem simple!

Flippin heck - is that even possible!

I do know a Bowen lady as it it happens

He was perfect Heather - at one point Mel was pulling my right hand to try to get me to release that shoulder (the naughtiest shoulder) as we were walking around -I was laughing so much that I was leaning on his neck at one point - and he still kept tootling on bless him. I did keep apologsing to him!

[winnieandben]

Sounds like a great start 

[Cobstar]

There's also one where you 'draw' a figure of eight with your arm. Heather can probably describe it better than me.

[kezshad]

We do a good exercise at Pilates. Hold you arms out in front of you with palms facing down, shoulder width apart. Push your arms forwards about 4-5 inches but from the shoulder, keeping the same width with you hands.  Repeat five times. Relaxing your shoulder blades after each stretch forwards.

Then backwards too, so pull you shoulder blades back towards each other, only widen the hands about 4 inches more than shoulder width. Again, relax after each stretch.

[Naiad]

If you can find my blog in EE Society Blogs, we had a fascinating exchange on there about ballet arm exercises (which I did on the lunge line, but you can do it pre-mounting), and the HUGE difference it made to my riding! 

[Bradders]

Thank you!