staywarmguy
New Member
If you hunt from a tree stand or ground blind you know how easy it is to get cramped and restless after a long period of time. I’ve discovered that there are ways to move on the stand that require very little motion. This in turn, helps keep you limber and stay on the stand longer. One of those ways is Yoga.
I’ve taken some standard Yoga exercises and customized them for hunters. Keep in mind that these do require some minimal movement so do them very slowly. And make sure you safety harness is secured!
Here they are:
Squirrel Check – Look up to the branches above you and see if that squirrel is still staring down at you. Now try to touch your left ear to your left shoulder, roll your head forward and then to your right shoulder. Finally, let your chin rest on your chest and keep it there until you make sure your grunt tube is still close. Rinse and repeat 3 times.
Big Buck Prayer – Place both hands together in a prayer position. Push your hands together and count 1 monster buck, 2 monster bucks – all the way to 5 monster bucks. While your hands are in that position, you could also send up a quick prayer for… well, you know what. Then put the back of your hands together and press them into each other while counting 1 monster buck, 2 monster bucks…
Hard Tack Break – Place your hands on your lap and see if you have any hard tack candy left in your pockets. Then move your shoulders back and try to touch your shoulder blades to each other. After that, bring both shoulders forward and see how far apart you can get your shoulder blades. Once you do this a couple times, slowly reach into your pocket and get that piece of hard tack.
Knee Scan– Put both of your hands on the outside of your knees. Push out with your knees while your hands hold them in. Do this while you scan the woods from left to right. Then put your hands inside your knees and push in with your knees while you scan the woods from right to left.
Wind/Arrow Test – Place your feet flat on the stand and put your toes together. Slowly lift up your heels as far as you can, take a quick check on the wind direction to make sure your position is still good, and let them back down. Then put your heels together. Again slowly lift up your heels as far as you can, hold them there while you make sure your arrow is still nocked on your bow correctly, and let them back down.
Boot Review – Bend forward at the waist and put your hands behind your calves. Push your hands into your calves and feel your lower back begin to expand. Hold that pose while you check to see if your boots are still tied. (Tip: If you’re cold, try untying your boots and wiggling your toes and feet.)
Peripheral Viewpoint – Put both hands on the right side of your right leg. Push into your leg and turn your upper body at the same time. While you hold this pose, look to the right of your stand to see if you see any movement. Slowly return to the middle. Then put both your hands on the left side of your left leg and repeat the pose while looking to your left for movement.
Congrats Pose – Cross your arms and put both hands on your shoulders. Press down on your shoulders while your entire back stretches. Take a look straight ahead for any movement and then give yourself a pat on the back for staying alert for the last 8 hours on the stand.
I’ve taken some standard Yoga exercises and customized them for hunters. Keep in mind that these do require some minimal movement so do them very slowly. And make sure you safety harness is secured!
Here they are:
Squirrel Check – Look up to the branches above you and see if that squirrel is still staring down at you. Now try to touch your left ear to your left shoulder, roll your head forward and then to your right shoulder. Finally, let your chin rest on your chest and keep it there until you make sure your grunt tube is still close. Rinse and repeat 3 times.
Big Buck Prayer – Place both hands together in a prayer position. Push your hands together and count 1 monster buck, 2 monster bucks – all the way to 5 monster bucks. While your hands are in that position, you could also send up a quick prayer for… well, you know what. Then put the back of your hands together and press them into each other while counting 1 monster buck, 2 monster bucks…
Hard Tack Break – Place your hands on your lap and see if you have any hard tack candy left in your pockets. Then move your shoulders back and try to touch your shoulder blades to each other. After that, bring both shoulders forward and see how far apart you can get your shoulder blades. Once you do this a couple times, slowly reach into your pocket and get that piece of hard tack.
Knee Scan– Put both of your hands on the outside of your knees. Push out with your knees while your hands hold them in. Do this while you scan the woods from left to right. Then put your hands inside your knees and push in with your knees while you scan the woods from right to left.
Wind/Arrow Test – Place your feet flat on the stand and put your toes together. Slowly lift up your heels as far as you can, take a quick check on the wind direction to make sure your position is still good, and let them back down. Then put your heels together. Again slowly lift up your heels as far as you can, hold them there while you make sure your arrow is still nocked on your bow correctly, and let them back down.
Boot Review – Bend forward at the waist and put your hands behind your calves. Push your hands into your calves and feel your lower back begin to expand. Hold that pose while you check to see if your boots are still tied. (Tip: If you’re cold, try untying your boots and wiggling your toes and feet.)
Peripheral Viewpoint – Put both hands on the right side of your right leg. Push into your leg and turn your upper body at the same time. While you hold this pose, look to the right of your stand to see if you see any movement. Slowly return to the middle. Then put both your hands on the left side of your left leg and repeat the pose while looking to your left for movement.
Congrats Pose – Cross your arms and put both hands on your shoulders. Press down on your shoulders while your entire back stretches. Take a look straight ahead for any movement and then give yourself a pat on the back for staying alert for the last 8 hours on the stand.