Improving day-to-day life with stretching
Stretching is very important because it helps increase range of motion and relieve tightness or tension in the muscles. One thing to remember is that stretching doesn’t have to be a chore and it can be more relaxing. Take 3-5 minutes out of your day to stretch- you can do this while watching TV! Each stretch should be held for 20-30 seconds. I will be showing you 4 stretches, 3 of which can be done with your back against the wall or couch for support. The last one is a more advanced stretch.
1st- The simple Hamstring stretch, reaching for your toes. It’s okay if you can’t touch your toes. That’s why you have back support to take pressure away from your lower back.
2nd- A stretch called Figure 4 which involves the back of the legs, but this version includes a muscle in the back called Quadratus lumborum (QL). For this stretch it is important to reach with your opposite arm over your head to get the stretch in your back.
3rd- A stretch for the hips and groin called Butterfly. Important note for this stretch is, I am using my hands to apply pressure on my knees to stretch the muscles.
4th- A more advanced stretch from yoga called Pigeon Pose, this targets the Piriformis muscle in the butt area. This stretch requires your hips to stay square, and for the leg tucked underneath to be rotated internally