Stretching Day 24

DYNAMIC WARMUP

1. Inch Worm Walk Out

Stand straight up with feet hip-width apart. Keep knees slightly bent.
Bend at the waist and fold over in a slow and controlled manner to reach your hands to the ground. Bend your knees as much as necessary to actually have your hands firmly planted on the ground.
Walk your hands forward until you find yourself in a push-up position.
Hold the push-up position for 1-2 seconds, squeezing your core, butt, and hamstring muscles.
Walk your hands back to your feet until you’re comfortable enough to stand up again.
Repeat for 10-15 repetitions total.

2. Low Lunge w/ Elbow Twist

Stand tall with feet hip-width apart.
Step forward with your right foot.
Bend your knee to get into a low lunge position. Make sure not to bend your knee past your toes. There should be a straight line from your knee down to your ankle.
Tilt your torso forward and down by bending  at the hip.
Put your left hand on the floor for stabilization, and twist your spine to the extent it’s comfortable and try to get as close as you  can to touching your right elbow to your  right foot (or the floor next to your foot).
Return to the starting position (standing up).
Step with the left foot, and perform the same movement with the other side.
Alternate each time, and perform a total  of 20-30 repetitions.

3. Y Raise

Stand upright, feet shoulder-width apart.
With a slight bend in your elbows, raise your arms upward and out to the sides, making a “Y” formation until elbows are aligned with each ear. Contract shoulder muscles.
Slowly lower arms, maintaining control to complete one rep.
Remember, the point is to feel the resistance and tension. Keep your shoulder and upper back muscles flexed throughout the movement.
Perform 20-30 repetitions.

UPPER BODY STRETCHES

1. Up & Down Neck Tilt

Starting position: This can be done while  you're seated or standing.

Start with your head squarely over your shoulders and your back straight.
Lower your chin toward your chest, hold for 3-5 seconds. Relax, and slowly lift your head back up.
Tilt your chin up toward the ceiling and  bring the base of your skull toward your back.  Hold, and then alternate.
Repeat both motions in succession, alternating every few seconds.

2. Side Neck Tilt

Starting position: Stand with your feet  hip-width apart and arms down by your sides,  or sit in a chair with your back straight.

Gently tilt your head toward your right shoulder and try to touch it with your ear, while stretching to point the other ear to  the ceiling.
Hold the stretch for 15 seconds, then return to the start position.
Perform the same stretch on your left side. Hold for 15 seconds.

3. Forward & Backward Neck Tilt

Starting position: Stand with your feet  hip-width apart and arms down by your sides,  or sit in a chair with your back straight.

Stand straight with your feet hip-width  apart and arms down by your sides.
Gently reach your chin directly forward in front of you as far as you can, as if you were trying to touch the wall in front of you with your chin.
Hold the stretch for 3-5 seconds, then return  to the starting position.
Pull your chin inward, as if you were trying  to pull it into your spine. Hold for 3-5 seconds, and return to the starting position.
Repeat both stretches in succession for  30 seconds.

4. Child's Pose

Starting position: Get into a tabletop position,  with your hands directly under your shoulders  and your knees in line with your hips.

Push your butt back towards your feet as far  as possible.
Stretch your arms out on the floor in front of you until you feel like your spine is elongating.
Reach forward with your fingers to further elongate the spine, to the extent that it feels good and comfortable.
Hold the stretch for 60 seconds and deepen  the stretch when you feel it is possible by further elongating your spine.

5. Cat-Cow

Starting position: Get into tabletop position on the floor, with your hands directly under your shoulders and your knees in line with your hips. The neck should begin neutrally, looking at the floor in front of you.

As you lift your head, push your chest forward towards the floor, allow your belly to sink,  pull your shoulder blades back, and your  butt/tailbone up towards the ceiling. (Cow)
Hold this pose for a few moments.
Then, try to do the exact opposite and round your spine while releasing your head towards the floor, pulling your tailbone/butt towards the ground, and pulling your pubic bone forward. (Cat)
Perform both movements in succession  for 30 seconds, holding each pose for  a few moments.

6. Sphinx/Cobra

Starting position: Lie on your stomach on  the floor, as if you were sleeping on the floor  on your belly.

Slowly prop yourself up on your elbows, bringing the upper half of your torso up  off the ground.
Start to straighten your elbows, further extending your back and lifting more of your torso off the ground, until you feel a gentle stretch in your spine. Only lift yourself to the extent that it feels right and comfortable.
Hold the stretch for 30 seconds.

7. Cross Arm Shoulder Stretch

Starting position: Stand comfortably, with your feet shoulder-width apart, and hold your arms  out horizontally.

Cross your left arm across your chest, so that your left fingers are pointing towards the right side of your body.
Support your left arm with the elbow crease  of your right arm, or use your right hand to hold your left arm in place against your chest.
Use your right arm to pull your left arm in towards your body, so that you feel a stretch  in your left shoulder.
Hold for 15 seconds.
Relax, and then perform the same stretch  on the right shoulder.

8. Open Book Chest Stretch

Starting position: Lie down on your left side,  with both knees bent and legs lying on top  of each other on the ground.

Stretch your left arm out so it's extended horizontally to the side of your body, with  the palm facing up.
Extend your right hand, and place it directly on the left hand, so now both of your arms and legs are simply lying on top of each other.
Without moving your legs at all, raise your right arm and, making a semi-circle, twist your head and torso to the other side as you try to place your right arm on the floor to the right side of your body, as if you were an open book.
Hold the stretch for 30 seconds.
Repeat the same stretch on the other side.

9. Standing Oblique Stretch

Starting position: Stand with your feet slightly wider than hip-width apart, and with a slight bend in the knees.

Place your right hand on your hip, and raise your left arm straight up above your body.
Lean your torso towards the right, bending  at the right side of the waist. Keep the knee  on the leg you’re leaning towards slightly bent.
Try not to actually move your hips, but simply bend towards the right until you feel a stretch in your left obliques (the muscles on the left side of your abdomen).
Hold for 15 seconds.
Relax, and then repeat the same stretch  on the other side.

10. Surface Tricep Stretch

Starting position: Stand with your right side next to a chest-high support structure - anything sturdy enough for you to lean a part of your weight on like a chair, or countertop. If there  is no such structure available, you can also perform this stretch using a wall.

Place your left leg about 2 feet behind your right leg, and to the left of your right leg  so that you have stable support on the ground.
Place your right elbow on the top of the support structure, and lower your body until you feel  a stretch in your right tricep and the side of your back.
Hold for 15 seconds.
Relax, and then perform the same stretch  on the left side.

LOWER BODY STRETCHES

1. Frog Pose

Starting position: Lie facedown, bend your  knees about 90 degrees, and spread them  as wide as you can.

Fold your hands under your forehead  to relax the upper half of the body.
Keeping your knees bent, sink your hips towards the floor.
Hold for 60 seconds, and deepen the stretch by sinking your hips more towards the floor whenever possible.

2. Runner's Lunge

Starting position: Get into a push-up position with your hands and the balls of your feet on the floor, both shoulder-width apart, and a straight line running through your head down to your feet.

Step your right foot to a point just outside your right hand. You should feel a stretch in your hip and groin area on the left side.
If you feel comfortable and want a deeper stretch you can stretch more, lower your elbows closer to the floor instead of using your hands for stability.
Hold for 30 seconds.
Return to the starting position, and repeat with the left leg forward.

3. Butterfly

Starting position: Sit on the ground and place  the soles of your feet together in front of you.  Let your knees bend out and fall to the ground  as much as gravity allows them to.

Place your hands on your feet and pull your heels towards you.
Keep your back straight and your abs  engaged as you let your knees relax and  inch closer to the floor. You’ll feel the  stretch in your groin muscles.
Hold for 30 seconds, deepening the stretch whenever it feels comfortable to do so.

4. Scorpion Pose

Starting position: Lie on your stomach with your legs straight and arms extended out to the sides, forming a ’T’, with your palms face down.

Keeping your left leg straight, lift your right leg off the floor, bend your knee, and cross your right foot behind your left leg and up towards your left hand. You’re aiming for a diagonal movement of the right foot towards the upper right part of your body.
Hold the position for 30 seconds.
Perform the same stretch on the other side.

5. Lying Hip Extension

Starting position: Lay on the floor on your back with your arms outstretched into a ‘Y’ shape above your head. Arms should be resting comfortably on the floor. Feet flat on the floor with legs shoulder-width apart.

Lift your right leg and cross it over your left knee so that your right leg is resting, open,  on your left leg.
Without moving your torso, bend your left leg down towards the ground until the whole left side of your left leg is resting on the ground.
Open your right hip by pulling your right  leg towards the ground.
Hold for 30 seconds, and then perform  the same stretch on the other side.

6. Pigeon Stretch

Starting position: Start by getting into a tabletop position on your hands and knees.

Bring your right knee forward and place it behind your wrist while shifting the leg so  that your right ankle is in front of your left  hip or left elbow.
Straighten your left leg behind you, making sure your left knee is straight and your toes  are pointed out behind you.
Keeping your hips square, lower your  torso towards the ground until you feel  the maximum possible stretch that feels comfortable for you.
Hold the position for 30 seconds.
Repeat the same stretch on the left leg.

7. Seated Forward Fold Hamstring Stretch

Starting position: Sit down on the floor and straighten both legs in front of you while  sitting upright.

With both arms, reach towards your feet as far as you can while only bending the upper body at the waist and keeping your spine straight.
Hold for 30 seconds, deepening the stretch whenever it feels comfortable to do so.

8. Lateral Squat

Starting position: Stand straight up with your  feet very widely apart (double shoulder-width).

Shift your weight to your right leg, bend your right knee, and push your hips back as if you’re going to sit down. This results in a slight squat towards your right leg. Keep your chest,  back, and spine straight without curling  or bending forward.
Drop as low as possible towards your right  foot while keeping your left leg straight and your left foot flat on the ground, with your toes on your left leg pointing directly in front of you.
Hold for 30 seconds, deepening the stretch whenever it feels comfortable to do so.
Relax, and repeat the same stretch on the  other leg.

9. Lateral Squat w/ Toe Raise