Fitness pros recommend stretching before exercising to warm up the muscles and help prevent injury. Another benefit of wellness is exercise that is sometimes overlooked. The extension can be a great stress reducer.
If you have a hectic schedule that sometimes leaves you feeling tight, sneak some hands into your day. Even a few minutes of stretching can make a big difference in how you feel, and therefore how you cope with stress. And best of all, many stretching exercises can be done almost anywhere, even at your desk.
Here are five easy steps that will help in relieving stress and put a smile on your face.
Exercises should be good and not painful. When you start these exercises, move slowly and take it easy. If you feel any pain, relieve it. As you do more of these exercises, you will develop greater flexibility and be able to stretch further.
Roll the neck. When you have time, you will begin to feel the straightness in your neck. An easy exercise to address this tension is the neck roll. The best aspect of this exercise is that you can do it almost anywhere (if you don’t mind a few quizzical stars) even at your desk or in your car. As a football player, sit back and relax. Now turn your head as far as you can comfortably to the right shoulder. Continue rolling the head in a circular motion to the back, then to the left shoulder and back to the front. Continue this circular rolling motion for 15 seconds, and then reverse and do the opposite. Do this for two minutes or until your neck feels relaxed and loose.
Toe touch. We all remember this stretching exercise from high school gym class. It is orderly because it is easy and effective. Stand with your feet straight and relaxed. Bend at the waist with both hands toward the floor. Bend what you can comfortably. If you touch the floor, great. If not, don’t worry, your back and leg muscles will benefit you anyway. If you do this stretch regularly, your muscles will elongate and you will be able to bend further over time.
Standing stretch. This is another easy but effective exercise. Stand with your feet slightly apart in a relaxed posture with your arms hanging in front of you and your thumbs hooked together. Slowly raise both arms above the head. As you catch it, rise up on your toes. Hold this position for a few seconds, with the arms also above the head of the abdomen, as far as you can to the right (so that you are still straight). Hold this for a few seconds, then return to center with your hands still above your head. Now bend as far as you can to the left, hold this position for a few seconds, return to the middle seat, and finally lower the arms and legs to the previous position. Repeat twice. This is a muscle exercise in your arms, legs and back.
Stretch. Begin this exercise by standing with your feet about feet-length apart and holding your arms straight out to your sides (parallel to the floor). Now bend your right foot slightly and, still prone, bend to the right towards the navel, so that your right hand lower your right foot and raise your left arm in the air. Stretch as far as you comfortably can. Return to the starting position and repeat the movement by stretching to the left. Repeat twice. This exercise will stretch the muscles and help tone the legs
Exercises for feet and toes. If you are on your feet a lot, exercises for feet and toes tend to . Start sitting. Extend your legs with the kick on the ground. Now bend your right ankle, lifting the front foot off the floor. Hold this position for a few seconds and return the foot to the floor. Do the same with the left foot. Repeat several times with each foot and both feet. The other leg is stretched in the circulation of flying each foot with the heel on the ground. A good leg stretch is to lift the front of your feet slightly on the floor with your heels. Now extend your toes as far as you can towards the ceiling, hold, then extend as far as you can towards the floor. Repeat often.
Sources:
www.deepsloweasy.com, Deeps Slow Easy
