The Hangover Workout
By Shaun Dreisbach
We don’t condone drinking to excess, but around the holidays, the celebrations are endless, and, well, you do the math. In the event you find yourself regretting all the bubbly you had last night, Glamour brought in New York City’s Strala Yoga founder Tara Stiles, whose “hangover workout” video is so popular it’s in every W Hotel guest room.
“This routine gets blood flowing and burns off any alcohol left in your system without being too strenuous,” Stiles says. “Because who wants to be near a treadmill?”
Shin Hug
Lie on your back with your legs extended and toes pointed. Bend your left knee, and hug it to your chest, as shown. Hold and gently circle your leg around in your hip socket for five deep breaths. Switch sides and repeat.
Leg Extension
Lie on your back with your legs extended and feet flexed. Bend your left knee, grasp toes, and slowly straighten and lift your leg as high as you comfortably can, as shown, bending your knee if needed. Hold for five deep breaths. Switch sides and repeat.
Seated Forward Bend
Sit with legs extended and feet flexed. Spread your arms wide to the sides to open up your chest, then reach forward, folding your body over legs and stretching toward your feet, as shown. Bend your knees if you need to. Hold, swaying a little from side to side, for five deep breaths.
Seated Spinal Twist
Sit in a cross-legged position. Bring your left foot across your right thigh, placing foot flat on the floor beside right knee; hug left leg to chest with your right arm. Rest left hand behind you as you twist upper body left, as shown. Hold, trying to deepen twist, for five deep breaths. Unwind, switch sides, and repeat.
Modified Headstand
Kneel with hands interlaced and resting on the floor; cup head in hands. Then lift your hips and straighten legs so your body is in a pike, as shown. Hold for five deep breaths.
Do Other Exercises Help Too?
Yes. Any workout speeds recovery, but if you’re going to break a sweat, just be sure to drink lots of water to prevent further dehydration, says Ruth C. Engs, a researcher at Indiana University in Bloomington.
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photos: Georgia Nerheim