During her Pilates class, web editor Shirley easily sees everyone intertwining their arms for the eagle pose. She herself doesn't even come close.
Maybe it's the stiff computer shoulders, maybe the natural talent is missing. Can you entwine your arms in the eagle pose? If you don't succeed, there are a number of exercises you can do to make your shoulders and especially the muscle between your shoulder blades more flexible.
Exercise 1:embrace yourself
Wrap your arms around yourself. Try to reach your left shoulder blade as much as possible with your right hand and reach towards your right shoulder blade with your left hand. Hold this for a few breaths. Then switch arms by raising your other arm.
Exercise 2:elbows together
Put your hands on your shoulders; your right hand on your right shoulder and your left hand on your left shoulder. Then bring your elbows together. If you can't do the eagle arms pose, chances are you'll feel a good stretch in this pose, or your elbows aren't touching yet. Hold the pose for a few breaths.
Exercise 3:super prayer
Put your palms and forearms together. Keep your arms at a 90 degree angle and try to lift your elbows up to shoulder height.
Hint: Focus only on the arms first, before expanding the pose with the leg exercises.
