Running has quickly become one of the most popular physical activities in the UK. Running not only improves the physical and mental state of an individual but is also very effective at reducing stress and blood pressure. It’s the cheapest and fastest form of exercise, making it very popular and achievable for busy individuals.

Running is however, well known for putting a large amount of stress on your muscles, joints, and ligaments. It’s estimated that for every mile you run, your feet will hit the ground around 2,000 times (Depending on your height and stride of course). This repetitive motion can affect your hips and legs, which can lead to injuries or even long term muscular problems. To try and eradicate the stressful effects of running, try practicing yoga before or after a run to help increase your flexibility and to help prevent injury.

In this demonstration we have used a Yoga Wheel to help perform a range of different yoga poses. A Yoga Wheel is the perfect tool for improving posture, increasing overall balance and adding comfort and support during your exercise routine. Yoga Wheels all have a grippy black rubber base and come in a range of stylish colours.

Practice: To begin, place your left foot forward and kneel down with your right
knee. Place the yoga wheel under your left leg and breathe out. Lift your arms up above your head and keep your body upright.

Tips: Use thoracic or chest breathing 3-5 times whilst completing the exercise.

Finish: To complete this exercise, breathe out and pull your arms back down. Switch over to your other leg and repeat exercise.

Benefits: This exercise helps to release tension within your knees, stretch your thighs and strengthen your back muscles.

Practice: To begin, place your right leg down on the mat with your knee touching the floor. Lift your left leg up and stretch it out, placing the yoga wheel underneath your ankle. Place your hands on either side of the yoga wheel and lean your upper body forward.

Tips: Use abdominal breathing whilst undertaking this exercise and aim to complete 4-5 controlled breaths.

Finish: To complete this exercise, breathe out and switch over to your other leg.

Benefits: This exercise helps to release tension within your thighs and improves hip flexibility.

Practice: To begin, place your hands down on the mat and set your knees directly below your hips with your hands slightly forward of your shoulders. Spread your palms face down on the floor, exhale and lift your knees up. At first keep your knees slightly bent and your heels lifted away from the floor. Tense your shoulder blades and widen them apart. Keep your head up and place the yoga wheel under your chest.

Tips: Use abdominal breathing whilst undertaking this exercise and aim to complete 4-5 controlled breaths.

Finish: To complete this exercise, breathe out, release the yoga wheel from your chest and relax.

Benefits: This exercise helps to release tension within your shoulders and neck as well as stretching out your leg muscles.

Practice: To begin, sit down on the mat and place the yoga wheel slightly behind you on your left hand side. Straighten out right leg and keep your back in an upright position. Using your left leg, bend your knee and cross it over your right leg. Place your left foot flat down on the floor and slowly twist your body anti-clockwise towards the yoga wheel. Turn your head whilst twisting your upper body and place one hand on the yoga wheel. Begin breathing process.

Tips: Use abdominal breathing whilst undertaking this exercise and aim to complete 4-5 controlled breaths.

Finish: To complete this exercise, exhale and slowly relax back into starting position. Repeat exercise on your opposite side.

Benefits: This exercise helps to improve the strength of your back and increases flexibility in your upper body.

Practice: Kneel down on the floor and bring your knees and feet together. Stretch out and straighten your arms, laying them down next to each other on top of the yoga wheel with your palms facing down. Breathe in and hold your stretch. Breathe out, tense your abdominal muscles and bend your chest down to the ground.
Tips: Use thoracic or chest breathing for 3-5 minutes whilst completing the exercise.
Finish: To complete this exercise, breathe in and lift your shoulders up. Breathe out and return to holding pose.
Benefits: This exercise helps to release tension within your shoulders and spine as well as your hips, thighs and ankles.

We hope you have enjoyed watching & learning about our favourite resistance band exercises. Don’t forget to check out Meglio TV for our full range of exercises videos, including tutorials on our grid foam roller and massage stick.

We hope you Meglio journey so far and we would love to hear your thoughts. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up to date with all the latest information. We always want to help you, wherever and whoever you are.

To find out further information or purchase one of our products, call us directly on 01491 520 718 or email sales@mymeglio.com to speak to one of our friendly team

To celebrate the start of the Rugby 6 Nations Tournament last weekend, we decided to take a look at how physiotherapy products are currently being used within the sport.

One of the more recent innovations used across a variety of sports, including rugby, is Kinesiology Tape. Meglio Kinesiology Tape is a versatile piece of kit, which aims to support and facilitate the recovery of the body. The tape stabilises the muscles and joints without limiting the users movement, making it ideal for professional athletes. Meglio kinesiology tape is extra strong and sticky, meaning it stays on for 4-5 days, even when exercising rigorously and playing rugby.

Meglio Kinesiology tape has been created in conjunction with sports and physiotherapy experts and not only supports, but also stimulates blood circulation to the body. Our tape is hypoallergenic, latex free, water resistant and easy to apply and can be cut to length to suit your needs. Also available as a 31.5m roll, we supply to the NHS, private physiotherapists and sports clubs, providing an economical way to buy Kinesiology Tape for those who get through large quantities.

More traditional tapes, such as Zinc Oxide Tape, are designed to immobilise a joint or to prevent pain when undertaking sports. Zinc Tape is commonly used by athletes to prevent sports injuries, or help wounds and cuts heal faster. It can also be used for the prevention of blisters by taping around sensitive areas prone to blistering, for example toes and heels when running. Available in two different sizes, Meglio Zinc tape is perfect to keep your joints protected during a physical game of rugby!

In more recent years, a lot more focus has been placed on finding the best products to help prevent an injury or to be used as a recovery method. Rugby players and professional athletes spend a lot of time using massage products such as, a Grid Foam Roller, to help muscles recover. Our latest video guide series shows you how to use Meglio massage products to help release muscle tension within your body. We’ll give you a step-by-step guide on how to massage specific areas of the body using our full range of massage products including, our Grid Foam Roller, Massage Stick and Lacrosse Ball.

Check out the full video guide series and experience the world of Meglio via our official YouTube channel. Subscribe now to receive all the latest updates from Meglio.

We’re here to help you achieve your goals for 2017, whoever you are, whatever you’re doing whenever you can!

We hope you are enjoying the Meglio journey so far and we would love to hear your thoughts. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up to date with all the latest information. We always want to help you, wherever and whoever you are.

To find out further information or purchase one of our products, call us directly on 01491 520 718 or email sales@mymeglio.com to speak to one of our friendly team