Our hands, we can’t work without them, and yet, we often don’t pay much attention to them until they hurt! It’s important to remember that our hands go through a lot of repetitive motions in dentistry and in yoga.
The wrists bear much of our weight in yoga poses like plank or crow pose. If our wrists are weak or tight, any form of weight-bearing exercise or even hand use in life’s daily tasks can lead to wrist pain.
Therefore, taking proper care of your wrists to avoid an injury is extra important – not just for your yoga practice, but for all aspects of your life.
So today, I offer this simple wrist, palm and finger stretch that you can do in between patients with or without your PPE (take your gloves off though, duh).
- From a standing position, extend your arm straight out in front of you and place the palm of your hand flat on the wall making sure to press your metacarpal pads into the wall.
- With your free hand, very gently pull your fingers back until you feel a stretch.
- Breathe into the pose by inhaling and imagining the breath traveling through your nose, down your arm into your wrist, palm and fingers
- Hold for 20-30 seconds.
- Repeat with the other hand.
This may feel more like a finger stretch but remember, your wrist is flexed here which is the counterpose to how your wrists are typically positioned while practicing dentistry. So you end up receiving a nice stretch to the hand.
Let me see your Hand Yoga by tagging me on Instagram @yogafordentist or posting in our private Facebook Group – Yoga for Dentists!
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