Whenever I do Wrist Stretches I am still surprised at how much tension I’ve been unconsciously holding in my wrists, hands and fingers, and how great it feels to stretch it out. I hope you, too, find a way of using these stretches to discover delicious sensations. Happy 15th December!

Do each pose for five to eight breaths (or five to eight breaths on each side, if it’s asymmetrical). Do five to eight rounds of abs.

Never stretch into pain. Take care of your body. If you’re pregnant then skip the abs exercise and don’t do anything that doesn’t feel right.

  1. Take three deep breaths, focussing on the sensation of breathing.

  2. Gentle stretch: Wrist Stretches

  3. Abs exercise: Twisted Root

  4. Something zingy: Extended Warrior Variation

    Extended Warrior Variation

    How to do it: Stand facing the long edge of your mat and step your feet about four feet apart. Turn your left toes towards the front of your mat, and turn your right toes in about 30 degrees. Your left foot is your front foot. Align your front heel with the arch of your back foot. Bend your front knee deeply, and activate your front foot by lifting the toes up and spreading them wide apart. Tuck tailbone to keep low back spacious. Bring your left forearm to the top of your left thigh. Bring your other arm behind you to grab hold of thigh or clothing. If this tweaks your shoulder then you can have right hand on right hip. Inhale and roll your heart open towards the ceiling. Exhale and relax your neck. Take five to eight breaths here, making space along both sides of your waist, then switch sides.

  5. Final relaxation: Lie on your back in a warm place for at least a minute and let tension drain from your body.

Click here for December 16th’s mini sequence.