Yoga is a brilliant way to work all the muscles in the body and create balance. However, an action that yoga does not include is: PULLING. A ‘pull’ exercise, is performed when the muscle pulls weight toward the body during the concentric portion of the movement and then lengthens as the weight moves away from the body during the eccentric portion of the exercise. The majority of the muscles used for pulling exercises make up what is known as the ‘posterior chain’. The posterior chain is a group of muscles predominantly comprised of tendons and ligaments along the back or posterior of the body, including the neck, back, hips, and legs. Our modern day lifestyles mean that we spend a lot of time seated during the day, which inhibits the use of the posterior chain muscles. Neglecting your posterior chain can negatively affect your posture, mobility, strength, and flexibility. The best way to avoid this poor movement pattern is to add pulling exercises to your weekly workout routine.
