Top 5 Stretches After Snow Shoveling

After shoveling for what seemed like the whole day after the biggest snowstorm of the season in the Northeast, my body felt wrecked. I went in the house, drank a lot of water, and sat down in a stupor. My shoulders were tired, my back was exhausted, my hands hurt. My inner thighs hurt. I tried to engage my stabilizing muscles as I was shoveling, but there was too much snow that had to be moved, and the snow was too heavy from a bit of melt.
I knew I needed to stretch out my body. Shoveling is so intense, especially if there is more than a foot of snow on the ground.
I immediately went into downward facing dog. Oh sweet relief. I moved around in my downward dog, twisting and arching, and reaching. This stretch is technically an inversion — it felt so good to let the blood rush to my head. I paddled my feet and moved my hips from side to side as well as relaxed my head so my neck could feel ease. I went to all fours for some additional movement there.
Shoveling snow was my practice today, but it takes a lot out of me.
Today I had to find patience, endurance and strength I didn’t know I had. And while I wore myself out, and my body is exhausted, I can rest knowing I did the best job possible even though there’s still so much snow left. (Next time I’ll consider hiring someone to plow it all.)
I might be sore tomorrow, but my body would absolutely hate me if I didn’t do the following top 5 stretches:

1. Cat / Cow — movement on all fours.
2. Eye of the needle — stretching the shoulders in a gravitationally supported twist.
3. Downward dog — I swear this is self-chiropractic care.
4. Bridge pose — softly engage the glutes and consider interlacing fingers under the body for an additional shoulder stretch.
5. Supine twist — relax into this juicy thing.

I made a YouTube video for you to follow along with. Enjoy it!
What are your favorite stretches after you shovel large amounts of snow? Share below!
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Much love,
Jenni Sol


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