01/20/2018
Stretches To Work Your Way To Fitness
Exercise doesn’t have to be grueling to improve your strength and stamina. Slow stretching improves both flexibility and strength, in addition to helping to firm and tone the body. These exercises are designed to achieve suppleness, eliminate tension, and firm up muscle tone.
Stretch plays an important role in exercise, which are performed slowly and precisely. If done four or five times a week, they will guarantee a sleeker, fitter, more supple body.
Good posture is vital, but it only comes with practice. At first, you may feel some discomfort from your new position. It will help if you concentrate on elongating as you inhale, and work into balance as you exhale. Think tall!
Stand with your legs, hip width apart, feet and knees facing forwards. Balance the weight evenly between the heels and balls of the feet, not allowing ankles or arches to roll in or out. To ensure that this is not happening, lift the toes off the ground to align, then place them down again.
Don’t lock or bend knees. Keep them relaxed and imagine that you are raising the kneecaps without moving them.
Exhale and pull navel into the spine, tucking the pelvis under (p***c bone comes forward) and lessening the arch in the back. Draw the cheeks of the bottom in towards each other.
Inhale and elongate your ribcage, pulling it out of the waist. Exhale as the pelvis comes into balance. Do not allow the chestto be pushed forwards.
Inhale; as you exhale, rotate shoulders in a backward and downward movement towards the middle of the back.
Keep the back of the neck lengthened. Try to make your head touch an imaginary hand that is being held one inch above the top of your head.
The weight of the entire body should be evenly distributed between the heels and balls of the feet. When you feel this, relax your bottom but do not lose the lift you feel throughout the body
NECK STRETCH
Stand in perfect posture. Keep shoulders down as far away from ears as possible. Drop chin forwards slightly. Inhale and, as you exhale, lengthen your neck, then take your ear down to one shoulder and hold for five seconds, making sure that the opposite shoulder does not lift up. It helps consciously to draw the elbows down to keep the shoulders still. Repeat twice on each side.
Start as above, and turn head to one side to look as far behind you as possible. Return to centre, then turn to the opposite side. Again, be conscious of keeping the shoulders down by drawing the elbows downwards. Hold for 10 seconds on each side. Repeat twice.
UNDERARM STRETCH
Stand in perfect posture, feet slightly apart. Drop the head slightly forwards. Take left arm up behind it. Slightly bend the elbow.
Inhale and, as you exhale, pull on the arm with the right hand, stretching gradually until you feel a comfortable stretch along the underarm. Hold for 10-15 seconds.
Aim to place the left hand on the right shoulder blade. Inhale and, as you exhale, change the line of pull gently downwards, towards the shoulder blades. Hold for 10-15 seconds. Change arms and repeat the movement.
SHOULDER BLADES STRETCH
Stand in perfect posture, feet hip width apart. Interlock hands above head, keeping the elbows bent.
Inhale, pull navel into the spine. Exhale and slowly take elbows back behind head to the left, centre and right before bringing them in front of you (create a circle).
Keep shoulders down throughout. Don’t involve the head or upper body in the movement.
Repeat the circles three times in each direction.