Not all yogis are flexible! #7daystretch

prAna and Fit Approach are back at it together! To help launch prAna's Fall Collection, we're having a 7 day Instagram/blog prompt challenge called #7daystretch! Join the conversation, and maybe even do some shopping with a special discount code that gives you 15% off: LiveInprAnaF15!*

Here's a not-so-secret secret: I'm NOT flexible! (Little known fact, not all yoga teachers are flexible, y'all!) Ok, maybe compared to the general population, I am, yes. But when I started yoga, I was an athlete. I hadn't danced in many many years (oh, and you can't forget about that one random bout of gymnastics when I was like 5) and had gone the common route of overtraining and under stretching. So when I dove into yoga during college, I was pretty tight! (Let's keep it at the physical level right now, because we could be analyzing the emotional and mental "tightness" I found relief for within posts upon posts!)

Being a field hockey player, runner, skier, hiker, spin-class-taker, my quads and hamstrings are tiiiiiiight! I've discovered the beauty of holding stretches, of breathing into that "hurt so good" feeling, as I've dubbed it. Not to mention the fact that years of knee problems have subsequently been attributed to dysfunctional quad formation and usage. I've dedicated the last few years to back bending and heart opening, which is directly related to quad and hip flexor stretching. Oh yes, I still feel the "hurt so good." And it's soooooo good!

The beautiful side of physical therapy for my dysfunctional quads.

I LOVE mermaid variation!

Dancer! One of my fave quad stretches!

A PT (one other than the sadist with the needle) once told me that she was shocked to hear that I was a yoga teacher because I wasn't very flexible. At the time I was rather insulted, but being a new teacher I didn't have the confidence in a  retort that I would now freely give (as I mentioned before, we're not all flexible!). But, she was right in that my hamstrings are pretty tight. Even though I can plant my hands fully on the floor when I bend over, my back ends up doing a lot of the stretching rather than my hamstrings. So now the focus, though not completely shifting away from hips and quads, is starting to expand to include my rock-hard hamstrings!

My splits. hah!

No way to avoid the hamstring in pyramid!

BONUS! It's #JUMPJOYMONDAY! Happy Monday, sweaties!

Join the conversation and show us how you stretch your quads and hamstrings! Don't forget to hashtag #sweatpink #liveinprAna #7daystretch @FitApproach @prAna !

*Offer valid until September 30th.

*Offer not valid with prAna influencers, gift certificates, and other offers. 

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by prAna, but all opinions are my own!